FACT 

• Acute mountain sickness (AMS) begins with mild symptoms such as headache and nausea. Altitude illness becomes worse as one ascends higher.
• If you develop cough and shortness of breath, this can be a sign of fluid in the lungs (high altitude pulmonary edema, HAPE).
• Vomiting, confusion or unsteady gait can be signs of swelling in the brain (high altitude cerebral edema, HACE). HAPE and HACE can be fatal within 24 hours.

FACT

• At 3,000m, the air you breathe contains only 69% as much oxygen as what you would breathe at sea-level. Oxygen levels drop even more as you ascend.
• How badly you are affected by this oxygen shortage (hypoxia) depends on how high you are, how fast you ascend, and how long you have stayed at that altitude.

FACT

• It is your trip - understand your itinerary and the altitude you will be sleeping at each day.
• A slower ascent is safer and can make for a more comfortable journey.
• Medications such as acetazolamide (Diamox) can prevent AMS, and speed up acclimatization.

FACT 

FACT

• Be aware of symptoms and danger signs. If the symptoms get worse, listen to your body.
• Be willing to stop the trip and go down to a lower altitude.
• Dexamethasone (a strong steroid) is usually reserved for treatment of HAPE/HACE.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR how to prevent and survive altitude illness.
PRECAUTION: Acetazolamide (Diamox) is related to sulfonamide medications. 
Individuals with a history of severe allergy to sulfa (anaphylaxis) should not receive it.