Moving to higher altitudes when hiking may lead to symptoms of headache. Other causes of headaches may include mountain biking, skiing, foot race, etc.

A Little More Altitude- A Little More Headache

Introduction

We have all heard of motion sickness that may just be triggered in the car, on a train, or even on a bus. It&rsquo;s especially true when we&rsquo;re traveling for longer periods of time. And, then, there is also the sea sickness when the waves literally rock our bodies and its insides, making us feel sick.&nbsp;

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There&rsquo;s another phenomenon, quite similar to this experience prompted by sensory stimulus, which is known as altitude headache &ndash; headache that occurs due to high altitude. It is characterized by a severe, throbbing pain in the head after being exposed to a high altitude<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. Anyone can get affected, irrespective of their sex, age, or physical fitness. 
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Understanding Cure For Altitude Headache

Altitude headache is a symptom of altitude sickness, which occurs when one goes to higher elevations e.g. on a skiing or hiking trip in the mountains.

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Altitude headache is an intense headache that is caused due to staying at high altitudes for a significant amount of time. The headache can last anywhere from a few hours to up to 5 days.&nbsp;

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Contrary to popular belief, it does not happen due to lack of oxygen or low oxygen saturation in the blood. This is why oxygen therapy is said to have little to no impact on the headache itself<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. However, given that the main cause is still unknown, oxygen&rsquo;s role and the possibility of hypoxia interfering with or enhancing the headache are still not ruled out.&nbsp;

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What we do know about altitude headaches is that the higher we go, the higher the chances are that we&rsquo;d get sick. The chances also increase depending on our speed i.e., how fast we are going up, like climbing on a mountain as opposed to increasing the altitude through a helicopter or a ski lift<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. 
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It&rsquo;s rare for people to not experience any symptoms at all while climbing or moving at high altitudes. Most of us will definitely experience some of the symptoms of altitude headache, especially if we are prone to migraines or have a family history of it. In fact, as far as family genes are concerned, it&rsquo;s possible for two members of the same family to have different triggers for altitude headaches. For e.g., it could be triggered due to long flights or it could be triggered during mountain climbing.&nbsp; 
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The important thing to remember here is that altitude headaches are not just limited to pain in our head. It also includes:

<ul>
	<li>Nausea</li>
	<li>Vomiting</li>
	<li>Loss of appetite</li>
	<li>Dizziness</li>
	<li>Fatigue</li>
	<li>Weakness</li>
	<li>Trouble sleeping 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Note:&nbsp;Altitude headache is treatable, but it needs to be dealt with timely and carefully. There&rsquo;s no need to get afraid and definitely no need to avoid doing activities you love. At the other extreme, there&rsquo;s no need to ignore it either; don&rsquo;t push your body to achieve more than it&rsquo;s capacity.&nbsp; 
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If the body is not used to the high altitudes, the trick is to take it slow and allow the body to adapt to the environment. Sudden changes cause the body to malfunction and lead to such symptoms! So, yes, the first thing is to plan the entire trip and to ensure our itinerary includes time for rest, too!

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Secondly, over-the-counter painkillers, like the good ol&rsquo; paracetamol or ibuprofen, can be lifesavers in this case. Furosemide, acetazolamide, and aspirin can be taken for altitude headaches as well<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. However, it&rsquo;s best to always consult a doctor before taking any medicine; they&rsquo;ll know which medicine will be effective for a particular person.

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In addition to the medications, hydration is also very crucial for treating altitude headaches. If nothing works and the headache persists, there&rsquo;s no harm in halting the journey or even going back. It&rsquo;s obvious that further increase in altitude may become a serious emergency.&nbsp; 
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Prevention is better than cure and what could be better than salvaging the trip by taking the right precautions to avoid altitude headaches? Following ways can help prevent an attack<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Hydrate. Dehydration coupled with lesser oxygen saturation triggers headache.</li>
	<li>Travel slowly. People with a slower pace are less likely to experience the severe symptoms and effects that come with higher altitudes.</li>
	<li>Sleep at lower elevations. The most common symptom of altitude headache is lack of sleep, which also factors into causing a headache or worsening a current one.</li>
	<li>Using acetazolamide as a preventive treatment especially for people with sleeping disorders or for people who have trouble breathing while asleep.</li>
	<li>Climb a maximum of 1,600 feet a day to allow the body to slowly get used to the environment.</li>
	<li>Avoid smoking and/or drinking alcohol. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Key Points

<ul>
	<li>Altitude headaches usually occur when a person is over 8,500 feet above sea level.</li>
	<li>Traveling faster to a high altitude increases the chance of individuals getting a headache.</li>
	<li>Family history or personal history of <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/migraines-73">migraines </a>increases the chances of altitude headaches.</li>
	<li>Altitude headaches can be treated with the help of over-the-counter painkillers, like ibuprofen and paracetamol.</li>
	<li>Acetazolamide can prevent and reduce symptoms of altitude sickness including altitude headaches .</li>
	<li>Hydration, sleep, slower pace of travel (i.e., climbing only 1600 feet a day) are some of the ways to prevent altitude headaches.</li>
</ul>

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