Travelling To Places At High Altitude And How To Avoid Getting Sick
You will know straight away if you are in a place of high altitude. Places like Machu Picchu in Peru, Jungfrau in Switzerland, Bogota in Colombia, or the one where I felt it the most, Laz Paz in Bolivia. These are usually places that are higher than 8000 feet, where you will experience low oxygen levels.
Your body may feel heavy, your heart may beat faster, you may experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, and/or swollen ankles. I remember having a tingling sensation in my fingers and toes which was a really bizarre feeling. I was out of breath just turning over in bed at night. It was not a very comfortable feeling.
Besides these feelings, you can get very unwell in places of high altitude if you are not careful.
To prevent getting sick at high- altitudes;
Keep hydrated, drink more water than you usually do
Rest for the first couple of days when arriving in the area
Add further rest days into your itinerary
Take it slow, give your body time to adjust to the change in oxygen levels
Avoid alcohol
Go prepared by getting altitude sickness tablets from your doctor prior to leaving
Chew or drink tea with coca leaves
What is the best way you have found to prepare your body and adjust to low oxygen levels? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.
