Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness can happen when you’re at a high altitude. It usually gets better in a few days with rest, but it can sometimes be life-threatening and need treatment.

Check if you’re at risk of altitude sickness
You can get altitude sickness if you’re in a place that is at a high altitude (usually more than 2,500 metres above sea level).

You’re more likely to get it if you travel or climb to a high altitude quickly.

You can get it in places like:

• Everest Base Camp
• Annapurna Circuit
• Annapurna Base Camp
• Manaslu Trek
• Langtang Trek
• Mardi Himal Trek

Symptoms of altitude sickness
Symptoms of altitude sickness usually start 6 to 10 hours after being at a high altitude.

The main symptoms include:

• a headache
• loss of appetite
• feeling or being sick
• feeling tired or exhausted
• dizziness
• difficulty sleeping

Sometimes, the symptoms can develop into more serious symptoms that can be life-threatening.

What to do if you get altitude sickness
If you’re at a high altitude and have symptoms of altitude sickness or feel unwell:

• tell someone who you’re travelling with that you do not feel well
• rest at the same altitude until you feel better – do not travel or climb to a higher altitude
• you can take anti-sickness medicine or painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to ease symptoms
  
  

Symptoms of altitude sickness usually get better in 1 to 3 days.

If your symptoms have gone and you feel better, you can travel or climb to a higher altitude.

Treatment for altitude sickness
Altitude sickness usually gets better without treatment if you rest.

You may be given medicine to help ease symptoms.

If your symptoms are more serious, you may be given:

• steroid medicine
• medicine to lower your blood pressure
• oxygen through a mask
  
  

Rarely, you may need to be treated with oxygen in a special air-tight chamber (hyperbaric chamber) to increase the level of oxygen in your blood.