What is Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) occurs when the body struggles to adapt to lower oxygen levels at high elevations. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or experience. The impact of altitude sickness can range from mild to severe and can lead to various complications.
Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness
Know about reasons, symptoms, prevention and monitoring for Kilimanjaro Climbing
Why is Altitude Sickness Common in Kilimanjaro?
Altitude Sickness is common on Kilimanjaro because of the rapid ascent to the summit. Unlike other high altitude climbs, where acclimatisation takes weeks, Mount Kilimanjaro is often climbed in 5 to 7 days. This rapid ascent doesn’t give the body enough time to adjust to the sudden change in altitude, which is roughly 50% lower than at sea level. AMS is one of the biggest reasons climbers fail to reach the summit, and it can severely affect their health later.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
Altitude Sickness symptoms, ranging from mild to life-threatening, can typically appear within 1 to 2 days of ascending above 2500m (8,000ft). With continued ascent, the symptoms may further worsen. The following are the major symptoms associated with altitude sickness:
- Mild AMS: Headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping.
- Moderate AMS: Severe headaches, persistent nausea and shortness of breath.
- Severe AMS: Life-threatening conditions like HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema), causing fluid buildup in the lungs, can occur. In other cases, HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Oedema), which causes fluid buildup in the brain, can occur.
Symptoms of HAPE and HACE
HAPE
Initial phases of HAPE may involve coughing up blood or mucus, abnormal breathing, difficulty in breathing, lips going blue, along with confusion and lack of coordination. If HAPE is suspected, oxygen is often administered in conjunction with immediate evacuation to a medical facility.
HACE
Initial symptoms of HACE may involve disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, talking nonsense, irrational behaviour, lack of coordination, severe headaches, which are sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If the oxygen level in the blood drops further, the brain can suffer from hypoxia, and the body can develop HACE.
How to Prevent Altitude Sickness?
A common misconception is that being physically fit means you are less likely to develop altitude sickness. However, this isn’t true. Altitude sickness can affect anybody, even seasoned climbers who perhaps haven’t taken the right precautions.
Here’s how you can prevent altitude sickness with the following precautions:
Visit Your Doctor Beforehand:
Visit your doctor before opting for a Kilimanjaro trek. If you have a history of breathing issues, avoid climbing to high altitudes. Avoid narcotic pain killers, sleeping pills, alcohol, or stimulants at least 30 days before climbing Kilimanjaro (this is a suggestion; always consult your doctor for any specific restrictions).
Choose the Right Route:
Choosing the right route can reduce the risk of altitude sickness while increasing the likelihood of summit success. Routes like Machame allow for gradual acclimatisation, rather than shorter, rapid ascents. At Tanzania Adventures and Safaris, we guide our tourists to the right route, taking into account their health and well-being, as well as their preferred trekking experience.
Stay Hydrated:
Drink about 3 to 5 litres of water per day to aid oxygen flow and reduce symptoms. In many cases, dehydration is a leading cause of altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro and a major factor in failing to reach the summit.
Communicate With Your Guide Properly:
If you are experiencing even mild symptoms, such as headaches or nausea, inform your guide immediately. Timely medical involvement can prevent altitude sickness.
Have a Proper Diet
Carbohydrates are particularly necessary. As part of your Kilimanjaro Food Guide, we have included a well-balanced diet plan to help you avoid altitude sickness and stay energised to conquer the summit.
Why Hydration is Important on Kilimanjaro?
When an individual dehydrates, their breathing becomes rapid and laboured. We therefore recommend a daily fluid intake of 4 to 5 litres of water on a Kilimanjaro climb. Proper water intake improves your blood circulation, digestion and other bodily functions. It can also alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of altitude sickness.
Check your urine colour while on a Kilimanjaro climb. Healthy urine generally has little odour. However, if you are dehydrated, your urine might smell strongly like ammonia. Dehydrated urine is also likely to be darker in colour than usual.
Check our Kilimanjaro Packing List for particular water containers you can take to carry enough water for hiking and trekking. If you can, also take electrolyte sachets for gradually energising your body while staying hydrated.
Avoid having alcohol before and during the climb. This can not only dehydrate your body but also prevent your body from adjusting to altitude.
Monitoring Your Health on Kilimanjaro
When climbing Kilimanjaro, monitoring your health is crucial. Two simple steps can help you with proper health monitoring:
Climbing with an Experienced Guide
At Tanzania Adventures and Safaris, we work with a highly experienced guide. Our guides and rangers are trained on the different symptoms of altitude sickness and immediate medical precautions that can be taken. Your guides are there to keep you safe and to treat any injuries you may sustain. Our guides will ensure routine checkups during the Kilimanjaro climb, monitor your oxygen levels and ensure that even the slightest sickness is being treated.
Carry Necessary Medical Equipment
As a reliable Tanzania Tour Operator, we ensure that your guide has a medical kit, an emergency oxygen supply, a stretcher, and a pulse oximeter in the luggage. Our porters are skilled at carrying medical equipments with ease and safety. Additionally, carry your personal medicines and medical equipments for daily health needs and emergency purposes.
FAQ
Know about the reasons, symptoms, and precautions taken to prevent altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro:
It is very common; over 60% of climbers experience mild symptoms because the ascent is relatively fast and the body has limited time to adapt to reduced oxygen levels.
Most trekkers start noticing symptoms between 2,500 and 3,000 meters, typically during the first few days as the altitude gain becomes more significant.
Early symptoms include persistent headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and loss of appetite. These can feel mild initially, but should never be ignored.
Opt for longer routes with gradual ascent, stay well hydrated, eat regularly, avoid alcohol, and include acclimatisation days to help your body adjust.
Yes, if symptoms worsen into severe forms like AMS, descent is mandatory for safety, which can prevent you from completing your summit attempt.
