Cycle Touring | Health | Altitude Illness

Cycle Touring Health & Medical Issues

Cycle Touring Health | Altitude Sickness

A screaming headache, an inability to catch his
breath and a dizzy disorientation overtook Rich
just hours after we arrived in Quito, Ecuador. His
debilitated condition was only half as frustrating as
the fact that Amanda was completely unaffected.

Coca Leaves.
The traditional remedy for altitude sickness in the Andes.
Rich chewed the leaves and created a green messy glob
that numbed his lips making him drool all over himself.
It was no help for his altitude sickness.

Problem was, we had ascended in our little
Volkswagen Campervan in a matter of hours
from the flat coastal lowlands to the high altitude
of the capital of Ecuador leaving Rich no time to
acclimate.

Cycling up a mountain is a whole different story.
What took hours in the van would have taken
days on a bike giving Rich the time he needed
for his body to get used to the higher altitude.
But, with the added exertion of carrying gear and
propelling oneself up the side of the mountain,
Altitude Sickness is still a concern to the cycle
tourists.

Susceptibility to altitude illness is not affected by
physical fitness.

Contrary to popular myth the air at elevation has
the same amount of oxygen, 21%, as at sea
level. As one climbs the barometric pressure
decreases. This pressure helps to push oxygen
into the blood stream through the lungs. Lower
pressure means less oxygen in the blood, lower
energy level and a host of symptoms that could
prove deadly. Just last year a tourist traveling on
the newly opened train from Beijing to Lhasa
died as a result of severe altitude illness.

Acclimatization: Cycling to high elevation
almost forces one to climb at a slower
pace, giving the body time to adjust to the
new situation. Planning shorter cycling
days and staying put when not feeling well
are tips that might be wise to follow.

Eat Lighter Meals: Heavy meals
concentrate the blood toward ones
stomach for digestion. Lighter meals allow
the blood to circulate more freely
throughout the body.

Avoid Depressed Breathing: Alcohol,
cigarettes and some medications depress
breathing. If possible avoid anything that
depresses your natural breathing like
sleeping medication.

Ginko Biloba: There are mixed results on
studies regarding the effectiveness of this
herbal supplement for altitude sickness.
We are going to try a 125 mg. tablets two
times a day for five days prior to arrival in
Lhasa.

Diamox (Acetazolamide): Is a drug that
helps speed acclimatization. We
purchased some at a pharmacy in Cuzco
for our hike on the Inca Trail and also from
a travel clinic in Bangkok in preparation for
Tibet and Nepal.