I've been to Peru five times, and to some of the highest places in the country. One trick I figured out was taking aspirin. If your stomach can handle aspirin, take 3 x 325mg pills. This not only mitigated altitude sickness quite well, I shared this with Peruvians I was with and they were shocked at how well it worked. I would also not recommend using the pills they sell in Peru for soroche (which is what they call altitude sickness in Peru). Coca tea never worked for me - it's essentially a stimulant and that increases your heart rate, which I'm not sure is actually good for altitude sickness anyway.....
Thanks. This is the best explanation of altitude sickness in all Yoube. It covers everything that you need to know. When me and my friends traveled to Cusco to do the Inca Trail which is a 4 day hike to Machu Picchu we made sure that the first day we relaxed and did nothing, just to get acclimate The second day we just did a leisurely walk and the thirst we started the 4 day hike. It was all well planned and we had no problem at all
When I trekked the Inca Trail in 2001, I had terrible altitude sickness, and our local guide knew very little about what to do. (He kept telling me it was my asthma kicking up.) An IMPORTANT thing I learned: NEVER take any sort of sleep aid when you have this,! As you said, the tea that the hotels give you can make you jittery, but taking a sleeping pill can kill you. I actually did take an ambien one night, but a respiratory therapist in our group read me (and our guide) the riot act the next day.
Great information though most US citizens will overlook this important point! The Andes are the second highest mountain range IN THE WORLD, and Cusco is definitely higher than Denver or Lake Tahoe. I’ve just returned and found that our tour did not allow enough time for MY system to acclimate (I was the oldest in the group at 55). I purchased altitude capsules, drank plenty of water and coca tea, and chewed coca leaves. Day two of the Salkantay trek I struggled with headache and fatigue. (actually day 4 in Peru) Afterwards my body adjusted UNTIL Saturday’s trip to see the Rainbow Mountains. The elevation, @18,000 ft, is equal to the Mt. Everest base camp. Locals recommend spending only 30 minutes at the summit. Our group was up nearly an hour, then the hike/pony ride back down and a very rough and rambunctious bus ride to our « lunch » stop...equalled a splitting headache, nausea and tossed cookies even WITH the altitude capsules. Our driver gave me oxygen and monitored my heartrate. Definitely train 6 months in advance using an altitude mask! ...and be prepared! The views are spectacular, the people are kind, generous and hard-working. The food; HIGH carbs. Glad to have checked this off the bucket list. 👍🏻
I had a high heartbeat and shortness of breath and fizzy eyesight, but it wasn't too serious. Part of my reckless but stunning mini bus trip to Ollantaytambo reached 13,000ft. When I closed an empty bottle of inca kola whilst in cusco, after landing in lima it was completely squashed. It is now my souvenir.
I live at an altitude of 198ft above sea level, and I went 8000ft in a day with not warning, although a have anxiety and I know the symptoms of anxiety very well when I was up there I knew that my symptoms were very different I was having shortness of breath increase headaches by the minute, high blood pressure, disoriented, incoherent speaking and poor visibility, wich I coul not understand why I was blinking so fast, anyway I started to feel better after was taking down to a lower altitude, but I had to spend 2 day in the hotel in recovery , on a side note while I was up there I drank so much water and my mouth was all the time dry , is that normal?
I fainted at altitude in Peru...so embarrassing. I came round literally with a man slapping something around my face (I don't know if it was alcohol) and my legs raised in the air. I'm so glad very few people know me out there!
Good advice!!! I recommend also to take an altitude sickness pill called Sorojchi Pills, you can buy it in Lima or other city in Peru before you get to Cuzco. Take it in the plane or the bus and it will help you to reduce the risk.
Its 2019 decemeber 27 those pills dont exist anymore am currently in puno and the pills are not on the Peruvian mark anymore and am only 13 and i have symptoms of altitude sickness and i drank coca tea and took other pills but i still feel bad am 12500 feet above sea leve btw i live in miami and i came to puno and now i feel bad and cant think it hurts
Here in Denver, we live at 6000 feet, and we frequently camp at 11,000 - 12,000 feet. We try not to take it for granted when friends visit that we're acclimated to these higher altitudes. Even for us, however, altitude sickness is real. After 2 days at the higher alts, we can expect hiccups (treated well with a nice cannabis indica). After three days, we expect headaches -- sometimes severe -- before we've completely descended.
Growing up one of my friends lived in Denver. I went and visted him every summer and vice versa. Starting in high school both of us started running cross country. He came and visted me and at my team's practice blew me out of the water. I went and visted him and ran with his team and was just about out of steam after 2 miles.
Michael I camped in the west, Estes etc frequently when I was younger. Never had a problem. Cusco kicked my butt! It's good of you to be so aware for friends.
i'm from lima so i don't used to the altitude and when i travel to the country side which is high i usually spend 1 or 2 days to let my body get use to. And also if you're going for treeking don't eat any kind of fat.
Love it! Thank you. We will be taking chlorophyll, probiotics and other natual O2 drops to add O2 to our body before and during our trip. I am also focuse on hydration and clean water. I bought inexpensive water tablets and a backpack that holds 2 liters clean water for hikes. I also bought travel size 100 deet since I hear bugs can be nasty on machu picchu. We plan to eat and drink lots of coco leaves and stay in Cusco only overnight and move down to adjust in Olly which looks like and incredible town.
What were your symptoms (phantom). I'm a truck driver and been traveling west to Arizona and California. All of a sudden everything in my body started getting tight chest tight hard to breathe head throbbing and all, Now I have a phobia of high altitudes and my symptoms are lingering around now for a couple of weeks. My friends think I am experiencing anxiety attacks because I'm having time struggling to get that deep breathe. Went to the heart specialist no signs of heart problems
I was there The locals chew coca leaves. Drink coca tea. What happened to me wss that I lost my appetite and couldn't eat. They had these wonderful buffets and I just couldn't eat the scrumptious delicious food . I couldn't eat !
Thank you for This! I really want to go but I'm afraid of the altitude. I had a really hard time in Breckenridge so I know Peru will be a challenge for me.
+Tamara take it easy the first day. Get some meds from your doctor at home and don't be embarrassed to ask for oxygen. Our guide was like ASK FOR IT :)
I went when i was 16 and wasnt able to move out of bed. My tour group was going everywhere and all fine and i had to stay behind because I was so weak and tired. I believe i had a cold at the same time or something but the medicine i was given made made me unable to eat or drink anything AMD for two days I couldnt eat or drink without immediately puking and it felt like I couldnt think straight. Im pretty sure i almost died and I still feel like I burdened everyone who I may have put a downer on their trip but at least I was able to pull through. Luckily the day we actually hiked Machu Picchu was the last day before heading back to lima and I felt much better for that hike. Want hing this I shouldve asked for oxygen because pills werent working but its in the past now.
Also in Lhasa, Tibet, I would imagine. I just saw an advertisement for Georgia before this video. Seems interesting. I'd like to go rather to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan--but from what I've heard it's hard to get in. We lived in Roanoke Virginia and would go to the mountains. However at maybe 700 feet to 1500 feet, the altitude felt refreshing and clean!
thegeneral123 I tease Mark often about his English. But I am secretly doing it because he excells in several languages and I've only got him on our native tongue. Bad wife. 😆
Mark, idea for a video for you, sure you’ve gotten it before. But you’re a smart guy, and you seem to speak several languages, maybe a language series from you? A bit more in depth than your current language videos? I really appreciate your advice and insights and I think a language series would be wonderful from you! Safe travels!
+Andrea Orbegozo I've thought about it but the language video series just don't get many views so I switched to focusing more on the travel tips side. I loved doing the language videos though
How many cups of coffee did you have before this video? Lol...just kidding.. thank you for your videos, they are great! My wife and I are going to Peru in January... regards from Vancouver, BC. Keep up the great work!
@@woltersworld yea am having it currently am in peru puno with my dad for vacation and am having it and am only 13 and am 12500 feet above sea level btw i live in miami florida which is normal sea level and i think i might die bc thinking hurts and eating hurts i drank like 4 coca teas today and i feel worse
Just came back mexico city after 5 days of walking the city (7,350 ft elevation) didn't drink a lot of h2o while there, on the 5th day starting feeling those symptoms Question, how long before symptoms go away once back at normal elevation?
I've been to high-elevation places in New Mexico (Santa Fe, Taos, both about 7000 feet), and after the initial breathlessness I get a headache. It clears after a day and then I'm fine. When flying an unpressurized plane you're allowed 30 minutes between 10,000 and 13,000 feet (in Canada), then you must have oxygen for longer or higher.
Hye My name is Naren and i am from Nepal(Kathmandu) so i have a question for altitude sickness can you tell about it? Because i like to travell and i have already done ABC trek more then 12 times, i have a not that problem but i like to know about altitude sickness and best solutions?
i had a similar experience on the Himalayas.. first trip at 3300 mt no problems, second trip same altitude i was really really bad, couldnt breathe, my driver had to brave one of the most dangerous roads on the planet in the dark to get me to a lower altitude; now i am toying with the idea of flying to Cuzco from Lima and back same day and just stay 4 hours...
So if high altitudes make it harder to exercise, does that mean that if someone who was born in Cuzco and never left beforehand would feel super-human when they visited somewhere close to sea level?
I think it does help. I've heard Olympic athletes train at high altitudes. Also with football (soccer), home nations with high altitudes have a big advantage over visitors that come from lower altitudes. Example: Bolivia.
I work in a drug free work place and we are required to submit to random drug testing. If I were to go to Peru and use the traditional remedy of Coca leaves to treat altitude sickness, will this show up on a drug screening back home?
I doubt it will. The leaves have very little traces of any "cocaine" properties in them. After you see Gordon Ramsays show about cocaine it really opens your eyes. They fill about a swimming pool full of leaves to end up with a handful of cocaine powder after all the processing.
It probably will. There is a recent case here in Peru about a football player showing positive in a doping test for "cocaine" consumption and was suspended for a year, turns out he just drank a coca tea to calm his nerves before the match and the penalty was reduced but still. You can see that here: medium.com/@JuanG_Arango/paolo-guerrero-sample-is-a-bit-more-complicated-but-simpler-b63cadf846c8. Same thing has happened to other athletes here.
It is True the Altitude can Kill you!!!!! is Why before do you go to this expedition of Altitude is better to take an ASPIRIN to Prevent Recurrent Heart Attack & Ischemic Stroke., 225 MG is recommended, ask your Physician for the doses. To travel more than a thousand, or more than two thousand kilometers, or more than Eleven thousand Feet above the sea level., requires to be consulted first to your doctor, otherwise you can die., even when you are sleeping. Take care!!!!!!!!!
Dam what a great way to scare the shit out of a 13 year old kid on the internet with his family in puno peru for vacation and currently above 12500 sea level what a nice way to scare the shit of me lady