Machu Picchu, the spectacular ruins of the Inca civilization in the Andes mountains of Peru, attracted roughly one million visitors of all ages last year as it celebrated the centennial of its rediscovery by Yale professor Hiram Bingham.
However, boomers and seniors often ask physicians and tour operators if Machu Picchu’s high altitude – 8,000 feet – could cause breathing or related health problems. The answer is generally no. But all sea-level dwellers need to take sensible steps to avoid altitude sickness.
“Everyone traveling to altitude is at risk, regardless of age, prior medical history, level of physical fitness, or previous altitude experience,” according to Dr. N Stuart Harris, writing in a Nov. 23, 2011 update on the website Medscape.
Altitude sickness typically starts with headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia and shortness of breath. Most symptoms usually occur when the body has not had time to adjust to thin air. This happens to some tourists who fly from sea level (Lima, Peru’s capital city, for instance) to the city of Cusco (nearly 11,000 feet), a departure point for many Machu Picchu visits, without a layover at an intermediate altitude.
However, it’s relatively easy to prevent high altitude stress symptoms from becoming acute, write
Eric A Nazziola, MD, and John Lafleur, MD, authors of “”Altitude Sickness” on the website eMedicineHealth.com, by allowing the body to acclimatize.
Recommendations For Avoiding Altitude Sickness
The steps the experts recommend include:
- Layover of 1-2 days at intermediate altitude
- Ascending gradually
- Avoiding physical exertion for 24 hours
- Drinking lots of fluids
- High carbohydrate diet
For those with limited time, physicians may prescribe the drug acetazolamide, marketed as Diamox and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tourists may be able to buy the drug, often called sorojchi pills, in Cusco and Lima pharmacies, without a prescription. The drug helps up to one-third of those who take it, according to a review of medical studies published in Annals of Emergency Medicine in Nov. 2011.
It is imperative for anyone planning to take this medicine to discuss it beforehand with their physicians, since it is sulpha-based and can cause allergic reactions, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Bring Walking Stick or Hiking Poles
In addition to altitude issues, Machu Picchu has climbs and walks within its boundaries that can be hazardous to those unsure of their footing. Numerous visitors of all ages bring hiking poles. They must have rubber tips to preserve Machu Picchu’s trails, according to specialists at Overseas Adventure Travel, the company whose trip I took.
Sources
Author’s 2011-2012 trip
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/mountain_sickness/article_em.htm
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/773065-overview
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000766/
http://www.drugs.com/mtm/diamox.html
Grace Lichtenstein - I prefer "seasoned" to "senior" but whatever term you use, I have been an outdoor adventurer for most of my adult years. I am a cycling ...
