Altitude
The summit of Kilimanjaro is 5895m and as such it is classed as a high altitude trek. Complex and not fully understood physiological changes take place in the body once above 2500m and this is because the air becomes thinner and there is less oxygen. When we breathe, our intake of oxygen is less and so our body has to work much harder to get oxygen to its essential organs. To put it into context, at the summit of Kilimanjaro there is half the amount of oxygen than there is at sea level. .jpg)
The process of ‘acclimatisation’, which is often referred to when talking about trekking at high altitude is a temporary change within the physiology of the body to cope this lack of oxygen. It is not possible to ever totally acclimatise to high altitude, particularly above 5000m, as there simply isn’t enough oxygen to maintain our body for a prolonged period of time. We can however, acclimatise temporarily in order to reach our summit goal.
How does our body respond to the altitude?
- We breathe faster, which is a natural and normal reaction. Our body is trying to get as much oxygen into its system as possible.
- Our heart beats faster even at resting pace. This is because it is working harder to pump oxygen around our body.
- We start to produce more red blood red cells to increase oxygen carrying capacity.
- We excrete bicarbonate through our kidneys and urine which makes our blood more acidic, in turn driving our ventilation of air to take on more oxygen (and help us to acclimatise).
- Because our brain requires 15% of all oxygen intake, it responds by limiting the body’s physical activity to preserve energy and so you will find you walk at a slower pace at altitude and become tired and breathless if accelerating movement, e.g. running to find a toilet spot!
How can I help my body acclimatise?
Go slow: It is impossible to fully acclimatise on Kilimanjaro. However, all of our climbs include an acclimatisation day to allow our bodies to adjust to the ever changing altitude. Climbing higher and sleeping lower allows for acclimatisation to take place gradually. Our 7 day itineraries also give you more time to do this and so increase your chances further of making it to the summit.
Pace yourself: Our guides will set a deliberately slower and steady pace to aid the acclimatisation process.
Eat: The body needs as much energy as it can get to pump oxygen around your body and so it is important to eat little and often, even if you feel you have lost your appetite.
Keep hydrated: It is important to keep drinking water to keep hydrated, adding electrolytes will also help replace vital body salts lost though perspiration during the day.
Sleep: Shortness of breath at higher altitudes can make it more difficult to sleep, but it is important to get plenty rest to recover after the day’s walk. NB: Sleeping pills should not be used to aid sleep at altitude.
Positive attitude: Kilimanjaro is as much a mental challenge as it is physical. It is important to mentally prepare and arrive on the mountain with a healthy mind.
What is Acute Mountain Sickness? (AMS)
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or Altitude Sickness can occur when the human body is exposed to high altitude. It affects everyone differently and some more severely than others. Of course it helps to be fit and healthy, but AMS has total disregard for experience and fitness. You may have trekked previously at altitude and not been effected, but another time you may experience symptoms.
Mild AMS
Symptoms include headaches, feeling tired and fatigued, loss of appetite, shortness of breath,
swelling of hands and feet, stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, pins and needles, inability to sleep –
generally feeling a bit rough!
Moderate AMS
Severe headaches that are not relieved by medication, nausea and vomiting, increasing weakness
and fatigue, shortness of breath, decreased coordination (Ataxia).
Severe AMS
Shortness of breath at rest, inability to walk, decreasing mental status, fluid build in lungs or brain
causing swelling. The only way to alleviate severe AMS is to receive medical attention and to
descend to a lower altitude immediately.
High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACO) are two, more serious and life threatening conditions that are associated with altitude sickness and occur when an individual has not been able to acclimatise properly or has climbed too quickly. Symptoms that are not assessed or remain untreated can eventually result in either of these conditions, where lack of oxygen can result in leakage of fluid through the capillary walls into either the lungs or the brain causing swelling. Both conditions require immediate evacuation and hospitalisation.
Our Expedition Doctors
All of our Group Kilimanjaro challenges include a specialist Expedition Doctor who is experienced in dealing with altitude. We also recommend Expedition Doctors for Private Trips. Our comprehensive medical kits are fully stocked with the right medication and equipment to deal with altitude related conditions. We carry oxygen and a Gamow Bag in case of AMS emergency. A Gamow Bag is an extremely clever invention that is composed of a sealed chamber and pump. If an individual us suffering from severe AMS on the mountain, they can be placed inside the bag and it is inflated by pumping it full of air, which increases the concentration of oxygen and simulates a descent to lower altitude. For example, just 10 minutes in a Gamow Bag can create a simulated atmosphere that is the equivalent of being 1500m lower in altitude. This grants a medical team valuable time to conduct an evacuation from the mountain and get the individual to a hospital.
What is Diamox?
Diamox is the commonly used brand name for the prescription drug Acetazolamide. This can be taken as a preventative measure to combat the effects of altitude sickness on the body. However, Diamox does not guarantee immunity from altitude sickness and may not always be effective.
NB: At Action Challenge we are not able to advise or recommend medication. Diamox is only available on prescription and we ask that you consult your doctor or a travel clinic for advise if you intend on using it. Travel clinics you can contact include:
Nomad Travel >>
1st Contact Travel >>
MASTA Travel Health Clinic >>.gif)
Action Challenge works closely with The Altitude Centre, the UK’s number one altitude training specialist. Based in London they provide expert services and simulated altitude equipment to help individuals achieve their optimal performance when trekking at altitude.
An increasingly popular service is the AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) Susceptibility Test, where you can discover in one hour how your body will react to altitude. Within this 1 hour consultation you will also be given tips and advice on how best to cope at altitude. As a partner of Kilimanjaro Challenge The Altitude Centre is offering all participants a 20% discount on AMS Susceptibility Tests when booking on to a challenge.
Man Vs Mountain – Summit Fever
It is easy to get what we call ‘Summit Fever’ on Mount Kilimanjaro. You have trained hard, potentially raised a lot of money and all you can think about is getting to the summit. At the end of the day though, your health is more important. Kilimanjaro will always be there to climb again and is certain to outlive us all. If you are suffering from AMS it is vital that you do not keep your symptoms to yourself. Informing your Action Challenge Leader or Expedition Doctor immediately means that you can be assessed, treated and monitored, and in a majority of cases, you will be able to continue your climb.
And finally...
You should not be unnecessarily worried about altitude, you just need to be aware of what it is, how it can affect you and what you can do to help your body acclimatise. If you have any questions or concerns about trekking at altitude and would like to speak to one of the team, please give us a call on +44 (0) 20 7354 1465 or send us an email to kili@actionchallenge.com and we will be happy to respond to any questions or concerns you may have.
