GOODBYE TO ALTITUDE SICKNESS

Peru, like many incredible destinations, has wonderful places that are at a great height; but despite this it is not an impediment to enjoy these fascinating places that you must visit is Cusco; which is 3,399 meters above sea level, considered the navel of the world; but we must be careful with “soroche” or “altitude sickness”.

Altitude sickness or soroche; It is a physiological reaction caused by the poor adaptation of our body to the lack of oxygen. As we ascend, the atmospheric pressure and the oxygen pressure decrease; therefore the inspired oxygen is less. When we are at a height of more than 2,400 meters; This is when we begin to feel the lack of oxygen. This lack of oxygen in the blood or hypoxia is the cause of mountain sickness. In many cases the symptoms manifest themselves differently in some people it does not manifest itself; in others they take a few days to appear, and there are those who feel them a few hours after having made the walk.

The symptoms of altitude sickness or soroche can vary depending on the physical state of the person; in some cases they may not manifest themselves, however in other organisms altitude sickness; It manifests itself the same day as soon as it is at a height above 2400 meters, among the symptoms we have:

• Dizziness: It is due to the brain not receiving enough oxygen; that is why dizziness occurs.
• Headache: It is caused by hypoxia and generates a constant headache; in some cases they are mild and in other cases it is more intense. This as a response of the brain of the little amount of oxygen that the brain receives.
• Fatigue and physical exhaustion: Just like when we do an intense physical activity; we have the feeling of constant fatigue and exhaustion since our body is without much oxygen.
• Agitation: our body noticing that we do not have the necessary amount of oxygen, forces the respiratory system to work much harder. This creates a constant agitation in people who are not used to an altitude that exceeds 2400 meters.
• Digestive problems: Other symptoms related to altitude sickness are digestive disorders, nausea and vomiting. These are related to the unexpected change in the speed of metabolism related to Soroche.

Now that you know what its symptoms are, let’s see how to prevent altitude sickness.

Visit the doctor before taking a walk that exceeds 2400 meters of altitude; so that according to your condition it tells you what medications you can take on the trip without compromising your health. Especially if you suffer from allergies or respiratory and heart diseases.

• Take your time: This is truly the best and most ignored advice to avoid altitude sickness; since it is not advisable to ascend suddenly but to go slowly; since your body is trying to get used to the lower amount of oxygen and from 3,000 meters do not ascend more than 300 meters per day.
• Drink plenty of water: altitude dehydrates; That is why it is essential to drink between four to five liters of water per day. Continue with a light diet that gives you easily absorbed energy such as: fruits, jams, cereals and Andean grains such as quinoa.
• Avoid alcohol: Alcoholic beverages increase the risk of dehydration as some studies show that the effects of alcohol are greater at high altitude.
• Take a deep breath: Try to take a deep breath as your body needs to get the necessary oxygen at altitudes above 2400 meters.
• First aid kit: It is necessary to have some pain relievers for headaches (paracetamol, ibuprofen or dexamethasone) and medicine for nausea (dimenhydrinate or metoclopramide) and if you travel to Puno or Cusco, remember that in these locations there is also “Sorojchi Pill”, some capsules with paracetamol and other components that will help you a lot to combat the discomforts of altitude sickness.
• Acclimatize: It may be a bit difficult to do it since it means changing your travel plans, what we recommend is that upon arrival you go to the sacred valley that is an hour from Cusco, where the elevation is 2,800 m.a.s.l. Compared to the city of Cusco, it is located at 3400 m.a.s.l. this allows you to acclimatize to a lower altitude, and then return to Cusco, or you can take the morning off to rest at
• Natural remedies: if you don’t like medicines; you can opt for home remedies such as infusions of coca leaves or infusions of muña which is found everywhere in Cusco. What we recommend is that you don’t drink more than four or five cups in a row, or you could suffer from heart palpitations; but it is one of the best natural remedies against altitude sickness, and has been used since the time of the Incas.

That the height is not an uncomfortable burden that prevents you from enjoying a good trip, and with the assistance of CUSCO PERU TRIPS you can achieve it.