Ibuprofen May KO Altitude Sickness

If you long for a "Rocky Mountain high" but not the headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting that sometimes accompany a climb, fear not.

A randomized placebo-controlled trial found that ibuprofen reduces the incidence of mountain sickness, according to Grant Lipman, MD, of Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, Calif., and colleagues.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory also appeared to reduce the severity of illness, Lipman and colleagues reported online in Annals of Emergency Medicine.

The issue is important for tourists, recreational mountaineers, military operations, and search and rescue missions, where participants often don't have time to prepare for the climb.

A slow ascent, allowing the body to acclimate, can reduce the chances of the condition, which Lipman said in a statement is like "a really nasty hangover." As well, prescription medications are available but they have significant risks and have to be taken well before the climb starts.

In contrast, ibuprofen is well tolerated, widely available, and can be taken the same day as the climb, the researchers reported.

The Causes of Altitude Sickness

The percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere at sea level is about 21% and the barometric pressure is around 760 mmHg. As altitude increases, the percentage remains the same but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. At 3,600 metres (12,000 feet) the barometric pressure is only about 480 mmHg, so there are roughly 40% fewer oxygen molecules per breath so the body must adjust to having less oxygen.

In addition, high altitude and lower air pressure causes fluid to leak from the capillaries in both the lungs and the brain which can lead to fluid build-up. Continuing on to higher altitude without proper acclimatisation can lead to the potentially serious, even life-threatening altitude sickness.

"If you are heading to the mountains," Lipman said, "take some ibuprofen the day you go."

The exact causes of mountain sickness are not known, but there is some evidence it is a result of an inflammatory process, Lipman and colleagues noted. So, it made sense to test ibuprofen in a group of 86 healthy adult volunteers who live at low altitude.

The following actions can trigger altitude sickness:

Ascending too rapidly
Overexertion within 24 hours of ascent
Inadequate fluid intake
Hypothermia
Consumption of alcohol or other sedatives

One way to avoid altitude sickness is allowing the body to get used to the altitude slowly.