"Altitude sickness isn't just an Everest problem. It's a risk for any hiker venturing into high country above 3,000 meters (9,842 feet), from the Rockies and Andes to the Himalayas. Mountaineers and high-altitude climbers have understood this for decades: success at altitude isn't about strength alone, but about pacing, acclimatization, and knowing when to stop. Those same lessons apply directly to trekkers heading for Everest Base Camp (EBC)."
"You can train for months, buy the best gear, and still get humbled by one thing on the trek to Everest Base Camp: altitude. One day you feel strong and excited. The next morning you wake up in Namche Bazaar (3,440 meters / 11,286 feet) with a pounding headache, no appetite, and legs that suddenly feel heavy. That's altitude sickness, and it's the reason many trekkers turn back before they ever reach Base Camp."
"The good news? Altitude sickness is often preventable. Not with "super fitness," but with smart pacing, proper acclimatization, good daily habits, and the right decisions at the right time. This guide breaks everything down in a clear, practical way: what altitude sickness is, why it happens on the Everest Base Camp route, how to acclimatize properly, what symptoms to watch for, and what to do if you feel unwell."
Altitude sickness occurs when the body lacks time to adapt to lower oxygen levels at high elevation, commonly affecting hikers above 3,000 meters. Symptoms range from headache, poor appetite, dizziness and difficulty sleeping to severe, life-threatening conditions if ignored. The most common form is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which can escalate to high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) or high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Prevention relies on slow ascent, proper acclimatization, smart pacing, regular rest days, and consistent daily habits like hydration and nutrition. Trekkers should monitor symptoms closely and descend promptly if severe signs develop to prevent permanent harm.
Read at Earth911
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