Heading to High Altitude? Altitude Sickness Preparation in Brampton

Some of the world’s most memorable journeys take place high above sea level. Brampton travellers head to Machu Picchu and Cusco in Peru, to Everest base camp and the Annapurna circuit in Nepal, to Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh in northern India, to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and to cities like La Paz and Quito. Others visit relatives in mountain towns or join pilgrimages to high-altitude shrines.

At these elevations, the air contains less oxygen with each breath. Your body can adapt, but it needs time. When you go up faster than your body can adjust, you may develop altitude sickness. For most people it is mild and passes with rest, but in some cases it can become serious and even life-threatening.

This guide explains what altitude sickness is, who is at risk, and how to prepare. Wellness Point Pharmacy, 115 Dufay Road offers an altitude sickness consultation as part of its Travel Health Clinic, where a pharmacist can review your itinerary and discuss whether preventive medication is appropriate.

What happens to your body at altitude

Above roughly 2,500 metres, many people begin to notice the effects of lower oxygen levels. Breathing becomes faster, the heart works harder, and sleep may be disrupted. Over several days, the body makes changes that help it cope better, a process called acclimatisation.

Altitude sickness develops when the body has not yet adjusted to the height. It is not a sign of poor fitness. Very fit people can be affected, and some less fit people are not. Your previous experience at altitude can be a useful guide, but it is not a guarantee.

The three forms to know about

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most common form. Symptoms usually start within hours to a day of arriving at altitude and can include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, dizziness and poor sleep. It often feels like a bad hangover.

High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a rare but serious condition involving swelling of the brain. Warning signs include confusion, unusual behaviour, severe headache, loss of coordination (such as stumbling or difficulty walking in a straight line), and drowsiness.

High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) involves fluid in the lungs. Warning signs include breathlessness at rest, a persistent cough, chest tightness, and reduced ability to exercise that seems out of proportion.

HACE and HAPE are medical emergencies. The most important treatment is to descend immediately, and to seek medical help.

Who is more likely to be affected

Risk depends on several factors:

• how high you go, especially the altitude where you sleep
• how quickly you ascend
• whether you have had altitude sickness before
• arriving directly by air at a high-altitude city, such as flying into Cusco or La Paz
• some medical conditions, particularly heart and lung problems

Tell the pharmacist about any health conditions, including asthma, heart disease, sleep apnea, anemia, pregnancy, or a history of stroke. These do not necessarily rule out travel, but they may change the advice.

Plan your ascent wisely

The single most effective way to prevent altitude sickness is a gradual ascent. Common guidance includes:

• Once above about 3,000 metres, avoid increasing your sleeping altitude by more than about 300 to 500 metres per night.
• Build in a rest day every few days, or every time you gain a significant amount of height.
• “Climb high, sleep low”: it is fine to hike higher during the day if you return to a lower altitude to sleep.
• If you are flying into a high city, plan a quiet first day or two before strenuous activity.

When booking a trek or tour, compare itineraries. Some cheaper or shorter itineraries ascend quickly, which may increase risk. A day or two extra can make a real difference.

Healthy habits at height

Other practical steps help your body cope:

• stay well hydrated, but do not overdrink; thirst, urine colour and how you feel are good guides
• avoid alcohol for the first couple of days at altitude
• eat regularly, even if your appetite is low
• avoid sedating sleeping pills unless a health care provider has specifically advised them for altitude, as they can suppress breathing
• protect your skin and eyes from intense ultraviolet light, which is stronger at altitude

Cold is another consideration. Pack proper layers, hats and gloves, even for trips that start in warm valleys. Brampton winters are good practice for layering, but mountain weather can change within an hour, and wind at altitude can make temperatures feel far colder than the forecast suggests. Waterproof outer layers and a dry change of socks are worth their weight in the pack.

Preventive medication: is it right for you?

For some travellers, a prescription medicine taken before and during the ascent can help reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness. It does not replace a sensible ascent, and it is not suitable for everyone. Some people have allergies or medical conditions that make it inappropriate, and it can cause side effects such as tingling in the fingers and toes, more frequent urination, and changes in the taste of carbonated drinks.

During a consultation, the pharmacist will consider your itinerary, how quickly you will ascend, your past experience, and your health history. If preventive medication is appropriate, they can explain when to start, how to take it according to the label, and what to watch for. Some people prefer to try a dose at home before the trip to check how they tolerate it; ask whether that makes sense for you.

Knowing the warning signs on the trip

Before you go, everyone in your group should know the signs of altitude sickness and agree on a simple rule: do not go higher with symptoms. If symptoms of AMS appear, rest at the same altitude until they resolve. If they get worse, or if signs of HACE or HAPE develop, descend straight away, even at night, and seek medical help.

Watch out for each other. People with altitude sickness may not recognise how unwell they are, and confusion is a warning sign in itself. A trekking guide with altitude experience is valuable, but do not let a schedule or a group’s enthusiasm push you to ignore symptoms.

Children, older relatives and pilgrimage groups

Not every high-altitude traveller is a trekker. Families sometimes visit relatives in mountain towns with young children or grandparents in tow, and pilgrimage routes in the Himalayas draw travellers of all ages, often by road over high passes. These trips raise particular questions.

Young children can develop altitude sickness, but they may not be able to describe a headache or nausea. Instead, watch for fussiness, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, vomiting or a change in play. Parents should be prepared to stop ascending or descend if a child seems unwell, and to seek medical help.

Older adults are not necessarily at higher risk of altitude sickness itself, but they are more likely to have heart or lung conditions that make altitude harder, and they may take medicines that need review before the trip. A long drive over a high pass in a single day, common on some routes, can mean a rapid ascent without time to adjust. If you are organising a family or group trip, plan the route with rest stops and lower overnight stays where possible, and make sure each traveller has had a chance to discuss their own health before departure.

Combining altitude with other travel health needs

High-altitude destinations often bring other health considerations. Trekking in Nepal or Peru may involve hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies awareness and food and water precautions. A trip to East Africa may involve yellow fever and malaria planning before or after a mountain climb. It makes sense to plan everything in one consultation rather than piecemeal.

Bring your full itinerary, including the days before and after the high-altitude portion, so the pharmacist can see the whole trip. If you need a travel health consultation for other destinations as well, mention it when booking.

Travel insurance and evacuation

Check that your travel insurance covers trekking at the altitudes you plan to reach, and whether it includes emergency evacuation. Some policies exclude activities above a certain height. The Government of Canada’s travel advice includes information on health and safety for specific destinations, and its general travel health and safety page has tips on insurance.

Get ready for your high-altitude trip at Wellness Point

A mountain journey deserves careful planning, and altitude is a big part of it. Book a consultation a few weeks before you leave so there is time to plan your ascent, consider preventive medication, and address any other vaccines or medicines your trip requires.

Come and see us at Wellness Point Pharmacy, 115 Dufay Road, Brampton, ON L7A 0B5, or call (905) 843-7155 to book. The contact page has our details, and the booking page lets you request a time. Bring your itinerary with the altitudes of each stop if you have them; they make the conversation much more precise.

This article contains general information about altitude illness. It is not a substitute for personalised advice, and anyone with worsening symptoms at altitude should descend and seek medical help.