BootsnAll Travel Community

I have done a bunch of reading about high altitude journeys and hiking and such, and about altitude sickness, and was wondering if there were any asthmatics out there who have been to higher altitudes and what their experiences were. I lived in Colorado for two years at over a mile above sea level, and have been at 9,000 feet (where my good friend lives), but how hard will it be for me to be at high altitude? I know about headaches and dizziness, but what about my asthma?

Thanks.

Cherie

I was on Kilimanjaro this past christmas and have asthma but more of a mild form now..but had my share of oxygen tank intake even at sea level when I was a teenager but now its a very mild form.

So I think it all depends on what kind of asthma you have. I was okay on the mountain...but had my inhaler handy at all times. I used it couple of times. I actually had a bad episode the night before I left for the start of hike. But I was okay once the hike started...so i think it was nerves.

I did however need my inhaler on Day 2 which was hard.If you get exercise induced asthma then you will def need a inhaler up there. The nights were uncomfortable so I made I was warm, Slept of a incline ( made a makeshit pillow higher than usual) this helped me a lot.

Also I took a lot of tea bags ..tea helps me soothen the thoart.

I did read a lot and prepared myself mentally. I did a lot of breathing excersises. When I ever felt that i was breathing heavy I would stop take deep breaths so as to fill my lungs. So breathing technique helps.Breathing through the nose is very imp and really helps. So to help with this I would sip some water and then hold that in my mouth and make sure I was breathing through the nose.

I also learned to check my pulse and see if my heart rhythm was steady. There was one night it was very iratic and that was I think at 16,000ft. I was very very slow because of the frequent stops and also my lung capacity. I made it as far as 19,000ft and did'nt have any effects of Asthma the summit night. But I was def breathing very deeply as I was reaching that altitude and the cold air did not help.

You might need more time than others.

I found a great handy book ...Altitute Illness Prevention and Treatment by Stephen Berzrucha, it was small enough to carry with me.

So my advice, check with your doc, get all your meds, have plenty of them ( remember if you use a spray that it might freeze as you go higher so protect the inhaler) and then while training incorporate excercises which help lung capacity.

Don't let Asthma stop you though!