When traveling to places like the city of Cusco that is at altitudes above 2,400 meters above sea level, the human body usually experiences various symptoms due to low atmospheric pressure. These discomforts are known as altitude sickness or soroche, depending on the country you are visiting.
You will not want your travel experience to Cusco and Machu Picchu to be ruined by the inconveniences of altitude sickness and that is why we have prepared this article with the most relevant information for you.
The altitude sickness is characterized by the lack of oxygen in the blood and organs of the human body, such as the brain, which results in various discomforts to the traveler.
As we have already mentioned, from 2,400 meters above sea level the atmospheric pressure decreases, because at higher altitude, lower pressure and at lower altitude higher pressure.
For example if we make the comparison between the oxygen present in the air at the level of With the oxygen present in the air at more than 6,000 meters above sea level, we can see that it contains almost 50% less oxygen.
The people most likely to suffer from symptoms of altitude sickness are those who live at sea level and who are not accustomed to the low oxygen at high altitudes; However, this is not a rule because altitude sickness can affect each person very differently, regardless of their age and origin.
According to general knowledge, fitness is NOT a factor in determining whether person will suffer from altitude sickness or not, that is, this condition can be suffered by both young people who generally have a better physical condition and older people who have a more fragile health.
Among the most common symptoms of altitude sickness also known as Soroche are the following:
Travelers may experience one or more of these symptoms, as we have already mentioned, they affect each person very differently.
These symptoms usually occur after 6 to 10 hours of having reached more than 2,400 m.a.s.l and usually disappear after three to four days.
One of the most effective methods to prevent altitude sickness is to gradually ascend from the coast to the mountains, giving the body time to adapt to the lowest atmospheric pressure. It is recommended not to ascend more than 500 meters per day. Professional climbers know this and ascend gradually, taking a few days off between sections.
However, most people who visit Cusco and Machu Picchu arrive by flight from the coast, not having time to acclimatize or adapt. In these circumstances the following is recommended:
In general, altitude sickness does not go from being an occasional discomfort that disappears as the days go by and the body gets used to it, however it is important to know the classifications of altitude sickness.
There are three classifications or variations of altitude sickness:
According to the country you are visiting, altitude sickness has different names:
Always remember that you can count on the support of our team of professionals from miticketmachupicchu.com, who will gladly help and assist you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding altitude sickness, the Machu Picchu tour or any general consultation. contact us at ventas@miticketmachupicchu.com
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