Most people experience mild to severe altitude sickness when they first arrive at high altitudes. The best way to avoid or reduce it is to maintain a positive mindset. Many symptoms are psychological or triggered by psychological factors—such as fear of high altitudes or a lack of mental readiness and determination to conquer the altitude, which increases the likelihood of experiencing altitude sickness.
It is advised that when you first arrive in a high-altitude area, you should not walk too fast, let alone run or jog, nor engage in strenuous physical labor. Avoid overeating to prevent overburdening your digestive organs, refrain from drinking alcohol and smoking, and eat more vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins. Drink water in moderation, keep warm, take fewer showers to avoid catching a cold or exhausting yourself. Do not start using oxygen right away; try to adapt naturally, otherwise, you might become dependent on supplemental oxygen in the highlands (the dependency can be very strong).
You may take some medications to alleviate altitude sickness: Gaoyuan’an (take at least 1–2 days before arrival and continue for 3–5 days after reaching Tibet), American ginseng lozenges, Nuodikang capsules (very effective for relieving extreme fatigue), Bufferin (to control altitude sickness-induced headaches), American ginseng (effective against extreme fatigue), Quick-acting Cardiotonic Pills (take sparingly), Salvia miltiorrhiza pills (for cardiovascular issues), glucose solution, and others. For those with strong adaptability to high altitudes, symptoms usually subside within 1–3 days, while those less adaptable may need 3–7 days.
If you can get used to the taste of butter tea, drinking more of it can also help relieve altitude sickness to some extent.
Additionally, a traveler recently shared an effective and economical little secret for combating altitude sickness. It’s said to work well, so you might want to give it a try:
Morning: 1 vitamin C tablet
Morning, noon, and evening: 3 Inosine tablets and 3 Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza tablets each time
Note: Start taking them one day before departure, do not stop, and continue until the end of your trip.
Pathfinder Travel, outdoor adventure and self-driving travel website!