What should I do if I get altitude sickness?
Dr. Colin Little
MD, FAWM, Chief Medical Officer, GOES Health
Stop ascending immediately and rest. If symptoms worsen or don't improve, descend 1,000-3,300 feet until you feel better.
Altitude sickness occurs when you ascend too quickly for your body to adjust to lower oxygen levels. The most important first step is to halt all further ascent and rest at your current elevation [1]. Never continue climbing higher with any symptoms of altitude sickness, no matter how mild they seem [2].
Descend immediately if symptoms worsen, don't improve after 24-48 hours of rest, or if you develop confusion, loss of coordination, or severe breathing problems [1][3]. These are signs of life-threatening high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) or high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) that require emergency evacuation [4]. Descend at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) and up to 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) until symptoms resolve [1][5].
While resting or descending, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and consider over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen for headaches [6]. If available, supplemental oxygen can help relieve symptoms [1]. For severe cases where immediate descent isn't possible due to weather or terrain, a portable hyperbaric chamber (Gamow bag) can simulate descent until evacuation is feasible [3].
References
[1] Luks AM, Beidleman BA, Freer L, et al. Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness: 2024 Update. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1016/j.wem.2023.05.013
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness, Yellow Book 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-hazards-risks/high-altitude-travel-and-altitude-illness.html
[3] American Academy of Family Physicians. Acute Altitude Illness: Updated Prevention and Treatment Guidelines from the Wilderness Medical Society. 2020. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2020/0415/p505.html
[4] Simancas-Racines D, Arevalo-Rodriguez I, et al. EMS Altitude Related Conditions and Treatment. StatPearls, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539874/
[5] Cleveland Clinic. Altitude Sickness: What It Is, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention. 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15111-altitude-sickness
[6] Klocke DL, Decker WW, Stepanek J. Altitude-Related Illnesses. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 1998. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)63396-X/fulltext