Gradual ascent and careful planning
The best preventive strategy for altitude illness is gradual ascent to allow acclimatisation. Ideally, individuals should take 2 or more days to ascend to 3000 metres, with subsequent increases in sleeping elevation of no more than 500 metres each day, plus an extra day for acclimatisation every 1000 metres. See Environmental risk factors for altitude illness.
Beyond devising a gradual ascent schedule, travellers need to plan for physically demanding journeys in remote locations. They need medical advice on physical fitness and an appropriate medical kit, and general advice on appropriate clothing and eye wear (high ultraviolet [UV] protection is recommended). It is also important for travellers to be familiar with local medical services and evacuation procedures.
Sources of information for clinicians include:
- The Travel Health Pro website
- International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA)—provides medical factsheets on a range of topics including the effect of extreme temperature on medications, and printable guidance on altitude illness in children including symptom scoring systems tailored to children and adolescents
- ‘Journeys to high altitude—Risks and recommendations for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions’ Journal of Travel Medicine
- ‘Travelling safely to places at high altitude – Understanding and preventing altitude illness’ Australian Family Physician
- ‘Travelling with medicines in 2018’ Australian Prescriber.
Information for travellers:
- ‘Go slow and sleep low—safe ascent to high places’—a printable information sheet on altitude illness prevention
- Travel at High Altitude, a booklet produced by Medical Expeditions
- ‘A guide to staying well at high altitude’ British Broadcasting Corporation
- ‘Top 7 tips for altitude sickness prevention’ Healthline.