Altitude Sickness During Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Mount Kailash, located in the Trans Himalaya region of the Tibet Autonomous region of China, is a peak which features a thrilling journey with stunning panoramas, pinch of adventures, and lots of spiritual value and pilgrimage activities.

Often regarded as a once in a lifetime spiritual journey that is undertaken by thousands of pilgrims every year, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a journey that takes the visitors through some of the most rugged landscapes in the mountains.

However, there is a common challenge that most of the visitors face during this journey. As you go up to an elevation of 5,600 meters, there are high chances that you will face altitude sickness during Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Therefore, to tackle these challenges faced by the pilgrims, in this blog we have presented a detailed description of the challenges faced due to altitude sickness in Kailash as well as how to tackle them.

Understanding Altitude Sickness

If you are a beginner in the world of trekking, the term altitude sickness might be new for you too. So, first of all, let’s familiarize ourselves with the term altitude sickness. It is a medical issue which is seen as you enter the high-altitude regions.

However, the range of altitude that is to be considered as high altitude is generally a subjective thing and can significantly differ based on where you live and what range of altitude you are comfortable with.

To give an example, for people living around sea levels, even an altitude of 2,000 m (6,561 feet) might be high. But for people ranging from hilly and higher regions like 1,400 meters in Kathmandu, this altitude will be just fine.

But when classified generally, the elevations over a range of 2,500 meters (8,202 ft) are considered to be high altitude regions. Once you cross this mark, the air starts thinning out.

Due to thin air and a smaller amount of oxygen available along with significantly low atmospheric pressure, your body undergoes several physiological changes. Your respiratory system as well as circulatory system start working overtime to adapt to these changes.

Meanwhile, you might be subjected to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dehydration, and several gastrointestinal issues. These are the signs of the onset of altitude sickness.

While these issues might seem trivial at a cursory glance, they can lead to much more serious issues. You might even get life threatening conditions like High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

They can significantly affect your entire trekking experience and sometimes you might even have to cancel your trek midway and return due to the seriousness of these issues. Therefore, preparation and steps to prevent these issues are important.

Elevation Profile of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

To understand the challenges related to altitude sickness specifically encountered during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route, it is first important to understand the elevation profile of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Note: This elevation profile is based on the most common route taken by pilgrims. Actual elevations may vary slightly depending on the specific itinerary and the chosen path.

Altitude Related Challenges During Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Given the high-altitude challenge that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra presents, there are some challenges that you need to specifically watch out for and actively prevent during your journey.

The trek features rapid altitude gain, especially when crossing the mighty Dolma La Pass at 5,630 meters. Here your body needs to quickly adjust to drastic shifts in the oxygen levels both during the ascent and the descent.

On top of the issues that you will be facing due to thin air, you will also need to deal with harsh climatic conditions which can further escalate your altitude sickness.

You might even face issues like dehydration and extreme fatigue when trying to complete the Kailash Parikrama in such extreme conditions without proper rest and acclimatization.

Causes of Altitude Sickness during Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

The main reason behind altitude sickness is usually the inability of your body to adapt to the rapid changes that you might encounter during the high-altitude journeys like Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Some major causes of altitude sickness are listed below:

• Ascending rapidly without a proper break and rest can be a major cause as in this case your body doesn’t even get a chance to acclimatize properly.
• Even if you are well acclimatized, dehydration can also display symptoms similar to that of acute mountain sickness.
• Consumption of certain things like alcohol and some medicines can also impact your breathing and oxygen absorption which leads to altitude sickness.
• Lack of proper rest in between your trekking days can trigger acute mountain sickness as well.
• Sometimes it also depends on individual susceptibility and factors like age, fitness level, and preexisting medical condition to determine whether or not you will encounter altitude sickness.

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness

Acute mountain sickness can display a wide range of symptoms, and the severity of these symptoms usually depends on the stage of altitude sickness that a person is in.

Starting from basic symptoms like nausea and vomiting, these symptoms can even escalate to life threatening issues like HACE and HAPE if left untreated. Some of the symptoms of altitude sickness are listed below:

A. Mild Altitude Sickness

• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty sleeping
• Swelling of hands, feet, and face

B. Severe Altitude Sickness

• Severe headache that doesn’t respond to painkillers
• Persistent nausea and vomiting
• Shortness of breath at rest
• Decreased urine output
• Rapid heart rate

C. Symptoms of High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)

• Shortness of breath at rest
• Cough with frothy sputum, possibly tinged with blood
• Extreme fatigue and weakness
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Chest tightness or congestion
• Cyanosis (bluish color of lips, tongue, or fingernails)
• Crackling or gurgling sounds in the lungs

D. Symptoms of High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)

• Severe headache
• Confusion and disorientation
• Loss of coordination (ataxia), difficulty walking in a straight line
• Hallucinations
• Drowsiness and lethargy
• Vision disturbances
• Altered mental state, such as irrational behavior
• Coma (in severe cases)

Prevention of Altitude Sickness During Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Now that you know how severe the symptoms of altitude sickness can be if left untreated, it is also important to know how to prevent altitude sickness during Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Acclimatization

The most effective way to prevent altitude sickness during Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is to ascend gradually so that it allows your body enough time to acclimatize well. Don’t rush the climb and take your time.

Ascending slowly and covering a limited elevation gap every day can give your body enough time to adapt to the drastic changing conditions including low oxygen level and less atmospheric pressure.

Make sure that you are planning a flexible itinerary which accommodates enough acclimatization days so that you can enjoy your journey and stay safe rather than just rushing and falling sick.

Once your body is well acclimatized, you can continue the trek with not many complications and health issues. So, make sure to allocate some extra days in your itinerary just for acclimatization.

Dietary Precautions

While enjoying the local staples and culinary delicacies is an important part of visiting a new place and exploring their culture, it is equally important to take care of your diet and maintain a balance.

Try not to have much street food and opt for well-cooked meals rather than raw products. Also, it is advisable to stick to a vegetarian diet as it significantly reduces the chances of food poisoning, which can be another major concern.

Make sure that you eat a balanced diet with lots of proteins and carbohydrates to maintain your digestive balance while also giving you enough energy for the trek.

Packing in a few proteins rich snacks for the route can also be a good option to provide an instant boost of energy as well as to get rid of the oral fatigue that you might encounter.

If you are packing in some snacks for munching, go for lightweight and easily digestible snacks like protein bars, dry fruits and nuts, and a couple of chocolate bars. Also avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.

Hydration

Staying hydrated is very important to maintain overall health throughout the trek. Always carry a portable water filtration system or purification tablets or at least drink the water from local sources only after boiling.

Prioritize your water intake throughout the trek and carry a reusable water bottle to sip regularly as staying hydrated can help you acclimatize well while also preventing constipation and other gastrointestinal issues.

Breathing Techniques

As your respiratory system and cardiovascular system is overworking under the high-altitude conditions, it is important that you rest them well. Along with that, you can also train your lungs for such conditions beforehand.

Practice breathing exercises to increase lung capacity. Also engage in cardiovascular exercises and endurance training before the journey to build stamina.

Remedies and Treatment Options for Altitude Sickness

There are chances that despite taking all the preventive measures listed above, you might still fall victim to altitude sickness during Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. In such case, stick to the remedies and treatment options given below:

Descend Immediately

As soon as you notice your body experiencing any symptoms related to altitude sickness, even if they are mild, descend immediately and keep your body in familiar condition.

Rest well and avoid further elevation gain till your symptoms have significantly improved. Otherwise, there is a high chance that you might fall victim to altitude sickness again. Eat a balanced diet during your resting phase.

Opt for Medication

There are certain medicines which are dedicated to deal with acute mountain sickness in all their forms. Consult your medical professional before embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and keep these medicines with you throughout the trek.

Certain medicines like Diamox (Acetazolamide), Nifedipine, Dexamethasone, and more are common names when it comes to medications for altitude sickness. However, do not take these without prior consultation, especially if you have any preexisting medical condition.

Take First Aid Training

Before embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar Trek, or any high-altitude trek for that matter, make sure that you are well versed with at least the basic first aid techniques which can equip you with the knowledge of how to deal with altitude sickness too.

Tips for Kailash Travelers

Even beyond the preventive measures and remedies for acute mountain sickness, we have compiled certain tips for the travelers of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra considering its difficulty in terms of altitude as well as terrain.

• When embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, it is best to always travel with a guide as they are well versed in the know-how of the region and can guide you well.
• Traveling with tour operators can also provide you with extra benefit in case of altitude sickness as they usually travel with supplemental oxygen and sometimes even portable hyperbaric chambers to aid with acute mountain sickness.
• Get travel insurance that covers all the aspects of a high-altitude trek in the Kailash region just in case you need emergency evacuation or medical treatment, and even helicopter rescue.
• If you feel unwell, do not ignore the symptoms and listen to your body. In case you feel any symptoms, immediately take proper remedy and inform your guide.