Can Altitude Sickness Cause Diarrhea?

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, is a condition that occurs when the body struggles to adapt to a low-pressure, low-oxygen environment. Symptoms can include diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting, which are thought to be due in part to hypoxia. Visitors can even get altitude sickness on the Front Range, but the symptoms are usually mild and don’t last long.

Serious issues rarely occur. Altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness, happens when the body is unable to adapt to a low-pressure, low-oxygen environment. The symptoms can quickly progress from general headache, nausea, and fatigue to confusion, decreased levels of consciousness, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and more. AMS, the most common form of altitude illness, includes headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, and insomnia. If not appropriately treated, AMS can feel like a hangover, with dizziness, headache, muscle aches, and nausea.

Altitude sickness is an umbrella term for several varieties of illness, with the root cause being the lack of oxygen at high elevations. Symptoms vary, but can include headache, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, all of which can last anywhere from 12 hours to four days.

Approximately 80 percent of people suffering from acute mountain sickness (AMS) report at least one symptom of gastrointestinal distress (e.g., anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting). Diarrhea is usually associated with fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, sleeplessness, increased heart rate, and abdominal distension, bowel sound hyperaction, constipation, and diarrhea.

Altitude sickness can also cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, especially when moving to higher altitudes quickly. The most common symptoms of altitude sickness in Aspen include nausea and vomiting, insomnia, shortness of breath, headache, diarrhea, and difficulty sleeping.

Altitude sickness is often preventable and can occur when the body struggles to adjust to lower oxygen availability at high elevations.

How long does it take to recover from altitude sickness?

Expected duration of altitude sickness. If you are climbing and do not move back down to an elevation where you last felt well, your symptoms can worsen and can be deadly. Symptoms from acute mountain sickness will go away after two or three days of rest at a lower altitude. Severe syndromes such as HAPE can take weeks to disappear, and will require medical attention and possible hospitalization.

Preventing altitude sickness. Gradual changes in altitude will help your body adapt to the low-oxygen environment and can reduce your chances of developing all forms of altitude sickness. People adapt at different rates, but there are four general guidelines for climbing above 10, 000 feet that are practical for climbers to follow:

• Do not increase your altitude by more than 1, 000 feet per night.
• Each time you increase your altitude by 3, 000 feet, spend a second night at this elevation before going farther.
• Limit your physical exertion to reasonable levels during your first few days of ascent to altitude.
• Drink plenty of fluid during your altitude exposure.

What are the three stages of altitude sickness?

Altitude Illness Syndromes. Altitude illness is divided into 3 syndromes: acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Some clinicians consider high-altitude headache a separate entity because isolated headache can occur without the combined symptoms that define AMS.

Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS is the most common form of altitude illness, affecting 25% of all visitors sleeping at elevations 8, 000 ft (≈2, 450 m) in Colorado.

Diagnosis. Diagnosis of AMS is based on a history of recent ascent to high elevation and the presence of subjective symptoms. AMS symptoms are like those of an alcohol hangover; headache is the cardinal symptom, usually accompanied by ≥1 of the following: anorexia, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, or, occasionally, vomiting. Uncommonly, AMS presents without headache. Symptom onset is usually 2–12 hours after initial arrival at a high elevation or after ascent to a higher elevation, and often during or after the first night. Preverbal children with AMS can develop loss of appetite, irritability, and pallor. AMS generally resolves within 12–48 hours if travelers do not ascend farther.

Is it harder to digest at altitude?

GI Distress. Your digestive tract gets compromised at altitude. Period. Symptoms like nausea and vomiting are common signs of altitude sickness and are seen in 81. 4% of short-term visitors. At high elevations, the body is working on overdrive so it suppresses the digestive system in favor of increasing its cardiopulmonary reserves. In other words, the heart beats faster and non-essential bodily functions are repressed, resulting in a decline in food digestion efficiency. Tailwind’s use of glucose as its primary fuel source makes it easy to absorb since it doesn’t need digestion to get transported into our blood. By literally bypassing the need for digestion, Tailwind is the fuel that is easiest on the GI tract.

Strategies at High Altitude. It is important to have a solid game plan for race day. Here are some important strategies to keep in mind:

• Stay hydrated with a target of 20-24 ounces of water per hour. Most GI problems stem from the fact that you get dehydrated. If you are taking gels, don’t forget to drink – this is a fairly common problem since gels are somewhat viscous.
• Carbs, like glucose, are the body’s fuel of choice at high altitude because carbs can supply 15 percent more energy for the same amount of oxygen in comparison to fats.
• Don’t overload the gut with too many calories. Aim for 200-300 calories/hour.
• Have your crew monitor your intake of calories and fluids.
• Avoid drinks or foods that are high in protein. Although protein is important for recovery and as part of your overall diet, it is too hard on the digestive tract during a high altitude race.
• Don’t go too hard. At altitude where your GI system is already compromised working too hard can just stress it more. Instead, strive to maintain a nice achievable pace.

How long do the effects of altitude sickness last?

Symptoms of altitude sickness usually get better in 1 to 3 days.

If your symptoms have gone and you feel better, you can travel or climb to a higher altitude.

Important: If your symptoms do not get better. If your symptoms get worse or do not improve after 1 day, go to a lower altitude if you can. Try to go around 300 to 1, 000 metres lower.

You are at a high altitude and you or someone else:

How does altitude affect bowels?

High-altitude exposures can cause hypoxic and oxidative stress, which can damage the intestinal barrier, leading to bacterial translocation and local/systemic inflammatory responses. Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are common during ascents to high altitude, with approximately 80 of people suffering from acute mountain sickness (AMS) reporting at least one symptom of GI distress. The etiologies of these high-altitude-associated GI complications are not well understood, but one possible explanation is injury to the intestinal barrier, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several diseases.

Hypoxia-induced intestinal injury could explain some of the acute GI symptoms reported during high-altitude ascents, such as diarrhea. Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress might contribute to the formation of GI lesions such as peptic ulcers, and hypoxic stress in the GI tract can damage intestinal microvasculature leading to high-altitude GI bleeding. A damaged intestinal barrier may impair nutrient absorption, which could explain some of the weight loss observed during prolonged exposures to high altitude. Increased intestinal permeability can allow luminal contents to pass through the intestinal wall, allowing for bacterial translocation and the activation of innate immune cells to initiate a local or systemic inflammatory response. This could partially explain why people suffering from AMS have increased circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) after acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.

Research investigating the link between intestinal injury, increased intestinal permeability, or bacterial translocation and high-altitude-related GI complications is limited. Hypoxia-induced damage to the intestinal barrier is relevant for several populations including mountaineers, military personnel, wildland firefighters, hikers, skiers, athletes, and other people who might ascend to high altitude to work or recreate. This review discusses the impact of high-altitude environments on intestinal barrier dysfunction, the role of physical exertion that may worsen hypoxia-induced intestinal injury, and some medications and dietary supplements commonly used during high-altitude ascent that may have relevant impacts on the intestinal barrier during high-altitude exposure.

Does drinking water help with altitude sickness?

Myth #4 – Drinking extra water will protect you from altitude illness.. Staying hydrated is important at altitude. Symptoms of dehydration are similar to AMS. In reality you only need an additional liter to a liter and a half of water at altitude. Too much water is harmful and can dilute your body’s sodium level (hyponatremia) causing weakness, confusion, seizures, and coma. A good rule of thumb to assess for hydration is to check your urine. Clear urine indicates adequate hydration, dark urine suggest dehydration and the need to drink more water.

Myth # 5 – Children are more susceptible to altitude illness.. Several studies have shown that children have similar rates of altitude illness as adults. No evidence exist that children are more susceptible to the altitude. If your child is otherwise healthy and the basic rules of acclimatization are followed they will likely do well at altitude. Children do get altitude illness and the main challenge in those very young is that they can’t communicate their headache and other symptoms. Excessive crying in a baby the first 1-2 days at altitude could be altitude illness. Children with AMS bounce back quickly with treatment as do most adults.

Does your digestive system shut down at high altitude?

Trekkers, please take note: high altitude places strain on your digestive system. You can avoid unpleasant issues like constipation and diarrhoea by eating certain foods and avoiding others. Read on to learn who’s a friend and who’s a foe at elevation! It’s important to eat thoughtfully when trekking at high altitude.

It’s important to eat thoughtfully when trekking at high altitude. Not only do you need plenty of energy to manage all that hiking, but you also want to eat and drink the right things to help your digestion cope with the changes in atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels.

With this in mind, let’s look at specific foods (and drinks) to befriend at high altitude. We then look at those to dump. Because stomach issues are a surefire way to ruin a big adventure!

Here are some foods and drinks that will be kind to your digestion and actually aid you in acclimatising as fast as possible…

Who suffers most in altitude sickness?

Men are at greater risk of altitude sickness than women, for reasons unknown. It is important to remember that being young and fit doesn’t reduce your risk, and just because you haven’t experienced altitude sickness in the past, doesn’t mean you are immune to the condition during future climbs.

• Mountain climbers are at risk of developing altitude sickness.
• Altitude sickness is caused by ascending too rapidly, which doesn’t allow the body enough time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure.
• Symptoms include headache, vomiting, insomnia and reduced performance and coordination.
• In severe cases, fluid can build up within the lungs, brain or both, which can be fatal.
• First aid options include descending immediately, medications and the use of oxygen administered from a portable container.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

What is the immediate cure to altitude sickness?

Give them aspirin or paracetamol in the usual recommended doses. Encourage them to breathe deeply every few minutes to decrease the level of carbon dioxide in their blood. Give them the recommended doses of the drug dexamethasone. In severe cases of altitude sickness, descend immediately.

• Mountain climbers are at risk of developing altitude sickness.
• Altitude sickness is caused by ascending too rapidly, which doesn’t allow the body enough time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure.
• Symptoms include headache, vomiting, insomnia and reduced performance and coordination.
• In severe cases, fluid can build up within the lungs, brain or both, which can be fatal.
• First aid options include descending immediately, medications and the use of oxygen administered from a portable container.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

How fast do you recover from altitude sickness?

Expected duration of altitude sickness. If you are climbing and do not move back down to an elevation where you last felt well, your symptoms can worsen and can be deadly. Symptoms from acute mountain sickness will go away after two or three days of rest at a lower altitude. Severe syndromes such as HAPE can take weeks to disappear, and will require medical attention and possible hospitalization.

Preventing altitude sickness. Gradual changes in altitude will help your body adapt to the low-oxygen environment and can reduce your chances of developing all forms of altitude sickness. People adapt at different rates, but there are four general guidelines for climbing above 10, 000 feet that are practical for climbers to follow:

• Do not increase your altitude by more than 1, 000 feet per night.
• Each time you increase your altitude by 3, 000 feet, spend a second night at this elevation before going farther.
• Limit your physical exertion to reasonable levels during your first few days of ascent to altitude.
• Drink plenty of fluid during your altitude exposure.