What is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and how to prevent.

9 March, 2016

Makalu Adventure

AMS is the one big unknown when embarking on a trekking trip to relatively high altitudes. How will your body cope? Will you get sick? Given that most of us can hardly train and prepare at such altitudes, this is a real concern for everyone but nothing to be overly focused on. After 22 years of guiding trips to the Himalayas the keys to giving yourself a great shot at a safe, comfortable and successful trip are:

Pace yourself: this is supposed to be a fun vacation and not an athletic event. Stop for a cup of tea at a lodge, take pictures, sit and gaze up at the snow-capped peaks. Have fun!
Stay well hydrated: drink liquid until it’s coming out of your nose and ears. It all counts…water, tea, soup. Just drink!
Stay warm: carry extra warm clothes with you during the day and pack plenty of warm clothes in your trek bag. Hat, gloves, socks, thermal layers, down layers and waterproofs.
Eat a healthy diet: the lodges offer a wide variety of hot and healthy dishes. On a camping trek your cook staff will make plenty of trek-sustaining dishes for your group. Fuel your body properly and it will treat you right.

No matter how good of shape you are in (or think you are in), everyone is susceptible to AMS. If you get a headache just drink more water. If it doesn’t go away take a Tylenol or similar analgesic. Don’t try to ascend too quickly. You have all day to get to the next camp or lodge. No sense in getting to camp before the porters or tea is ready! Diamox can be used for persistent and mild symptoms. However, the best cure for AMS is to descend. The Everest and Annapurna areas offer very good communication along the routes and are relatively easy routes when needing to descend to lower elevations. This is why these areas are a great choice for the first time trekker