Staying well at altitude
If your trip climbs high — trekking Kilimanjaro, walking the Andes or reaching the Himalaya — a quick chat with our pharmacist helps you go up safely and enjoy the view.
When you climb above roughly 2,500 metres, the air holds less oxygen and your body needs time to adjust. Many travellers feel a little off at first — a headache, broken sleep, less of an appetite — and for most people that settles as they acclimatise. The trouble starts when people go up too fast and ignore the early signs, which is when altitude sickness can become serious.
The good news is that a few simple habits prevent most problems, and for some itineraries preventive medication can help too. We'll look at where you're going, how quickly you'll gain height and your own health, then give you a clear, practical plan to take with you.
What altitude sickness actually feels like
The mild form, often called acute mountain sickness, usually shows up within a few hours to a day of arriving high. The classic signs are a headache plus things like nausea, dizziness, tiredness or poor sleep — a bit like a hangover that won't lift. Warning signs that something more serious is developing include feeling breathless at rest, an unsteady or staggering walk, confusion, or a cough that won't settle. These need urgent attention and going down, not pushing on.
Going up gently is your best protection
The single most effective thing you can do is ascend gradually so your body has time to catch up. A common rule of thumb above 3,000 metres is to raise the height you sleep at by no more than around 300 to 500 metres a night, and to build in a rest day every few days or so. "Climb high, sleep low" — walking higher in the day but coming back down to sleep — helps you acclimatise. Drinking enough, easing off the alcohol and not overdoing it on the first day all make a real difference too.
Where a consultation helps
For some trips — a fast ascent, a previous bout of altitude sickness, or a route where going slowly simply isn't an option — preventive medication may be appropriate alongside a sensible ascent plan. Whether it suits you depends on your itinerary, your medical history and any other medicines you take. Our pharmacist will assess all of this with you in a private consultation and, where it's clinically suitable, talk you through the options. We'll also make sure you know what to do if symptoms appear and when it's time to turn back.
Frequently asked questions
Most people are fine below about 2,500 metres. Symptoms become more likely the higher and faster you go above that, which is why places like Cusco, the Everest region and the higher slopes of Kilimanjaro come up so often.
For some itineraries, yes — preventive medication can be appropriate where it's clinically suitable. Our pharmacist will review your trip and health in a consultation and advise whether it's right for you. It always works best alongside a gradual ascent, never instead of one.
Not necessarily. Fitness is great for the trekking itself, but it doesn't protect you from altitude sickness, and fit, young travellers can be caught out because they go up too quickly. How fast you ascend matters far more than how fit you are.
Stop going up, rest, and tell the people you're with. Mild symptoms often ease with a day at the same height. If they get worse, or you notice breathlessness at rest, an unsteady walk or confusion, descend without delay and seek medical help — these can be signs of a serious problem.
This information is grounded in NHS and TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) guidance and is for general information — not a substitute for a personal consultation. Your travel consultation is carried out by our pharmacist.
Planning a high-altitude trip?
Pop in or call Davyhulme Pharmacy in Urmston on 0161 748 3016 and our pharmacist will build you a plan for going up safely.