HOW TO AVOID  ALTITUDE SICKNESS IN CUSCO AND INCA TRAIL TREKS

1. What is the best way to beat altitude sickness?

No hurling. You can prevent or diminish altitude sickness -which typically occurs above 8,000 feet- if you follow this advice:

• Rest Up. Get at least two 8 hours nights of sleep, and make sure you are well hydrated before you start; you can also acclimatize by spending 3 days at high altitude.
• Don’t race, climb slower than your normal walking pace. If you need to rest after ascending only 20 yards, you are flirting with exhaustion and need to dial it back.
• Dig deeper. When your legs turn to stone or you feel nauseous, we suggest pressure breathing: ‘Take a deep breath, then force air out through pursed lips like you are blowing out a candle. Do this 3 to 4 times a minute; vigorous respiration pushes more oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream.
• Hit the bottle. Some studies show that the herbal remedy COCA tea (Inca leaf tea) helps increase red blood cells (drink a lot)
• Some drugs that contain acetazolamide (such as Diamox) can prevent or alleviate some forms of altitude sickness, but be aware of side effects such as numbness and frequent urination. See a doctor for prescription and dosage information.
• Treat early Altitude sickness typically starts with nausea, lethargy, headache, irritability and/or loss of appetite. We suggest immediate action: slow your pace, hydrate, practice pressure breathing – or just take a rest. If your condition doesn’t improve, there’s one simple, sure-fire solution – DESCEND.