“Soroche”-- Altitude Sickness in Peru (Healthcare Prep, Part II)

I live in New Jersey, at sea level. Altitude 0.

The altitude in Philadelphia? 39 feet.

Lima, Peru? 5,080 feet

Cuzco? 11,152 feet.  Ollytaytambo? 9,160. Machu Picchu? 7,972. And Puerto Maldonado? Back to 600 feet.

Above 8,000 feet, where the air is thinner, you might experience altitude sickness. How the altitude will affect you is completely unpredictable. You might be a marathon runner and be incapacitated by headaches--or it might only affect you only slightly. Here's a brief primer on what to expect, and how to prepare. (If you already know, as I do, that altitude affects you severely, talk to your doctor about the Rx for Diamox.)

ALTITUDE SICKNESS

What to expect: Headaches, sleep disruption, labored breathing while exercising.

What to try: Tylenol, Excedrin, or whatever you normally take for headaches. Adjust expectations for how much, physically, you will be comfortable to do.

Preventative:  Hydration is imperative! Caffeine, sodium, alcohol, and the flight will all dehydrate you, as will the elevated altitude once we leave Lima.   

• 8 x 8 oz glasses (bottles) of water each day (at least) ahead of and during trip. (In Peru, we'll drink bottled water.)
• Diamox [optional Rx] for altitude illness—talk to doc ahead of time.
• Travelers, NOT DOCTORS, will recommend Cocoa Tea or leaves. (See my related post [The "NO" Post] about avoiding fruits or vegetables. DON'T eat the leaves, guys.) Cocoa tea is not available (i.e. not legal) in the U.S. You'll find it in Peru readily. It contains cocaine (cocoa plant). You should avoid drinking this tea if you will be drug tested for any reason. You'll test positive for cocaine. (Pharmacy students--are you ever randomly tested?)

When to worry: Severe headaches; or if respiratory congestion or labored breathing continues once exercise has ceased. Blurry vision, passing out (means brain swelling)-- must be medevaced out and taken to lower altitude immediately.