As part of our safety procedures, our guides perform daily health checks on all our climbers throughout the Kilimanjaro climb. This helps us to be sure the trekkers are adapting to the thinner air and not developing early symptoms that could lead to altitude sickness.
One of the tools that we use to determine the status of our climbers is a pulse oximeter.
Attached to the end of your finger, a pulse oximeter will use beams of light to measure the total haemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen, as well as your heart rate.
What do the Pulse Oximeter Numbers Mean?
At sea-level, most healthy individuals have an oxygen saturation (SpO2) of between 95-99%. As we climb higher, the atmospheric pressure drops, meaning there is effectively “less oxygen” in the air, and the oxygen saturation number will start to decrease.
At the summit of Kilimanjaro, there is approximately 49% of the oxygen available at sea level.
The percentage blood oxygen saturation, combined with your heart rate, are indicators of how well your body is acclimatizing to the altitude. Recording these numbers twice daily allows our guides to keep an eye on your overall health while on the mountain, and observe trends.
Pulse rate is also important, as a very high heart rate can be an early indicator that a climber is struggling with the hypoxic (low oxygen) environment, and the body is working hard to compensate.
These numbers cannot be used in isolation.
How we use PulseOx data
When you are climbing Kilimanjaro, every day our trained guides will do a routine medical check. You’ll be asked in detail how you’re feeling, how you’ve slept, and other questions to build up a picture of how well you are doing.
When used in the context of any symptoms you are presenting and how you are feeling, these numbers give a useful indicator of how well you are acclimatizing. Acclimatization is a complex adaptation process and the pulse oximeter looks at only one factor.
Dosage of Diamox on Kilimanjaro: The Wilderness Medical Society’s recommended dosage is 125mg twice daily, starting two days before the start of your Kilimanjaro climb. Dr. Peter Hackett of the Institute for Altitude Medicine agrees. Anecdotal evidence has shown that in some individuals a dose of half this amount is effective as a prophylaxis. (At your medical check-up, speak to your doctor about whether Diamox is right for you.)
With your doctor’s permission, we recommend taking Diamox for a 2-4 day period as a ‘trial run’ to see if you experience any side effects a couple of weeks before you depart for Kilimanjaro. That way if you do have side effects from the medication, they won’t be mistaken for altitude sickness.
At 19,341ft above sea level, Kilimanjaro’s summit falls into the “extreme altitude” category. It’s not Everest so there is no need for supplemental oxygen to reach Uhuru Peak safely.
However, altitude sickness and altitude-related complicationsare the major reasons why a climber might fail to summit or need to turn back. Altitude sickness can strike even the fittest of trekkers and while without a doubt the best way to acclimatize is to go slowly, giving your body time to adapt, there is a medication called Diamox that can help this process.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this article, or in any of the information it contains is designed to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any condition. Please consult your healthcare professional before using any of the suggestions contained in this article
What is Diamox?
Diamox is the brand name of acetazolamide, a medication primarily used in the treatment of glaucoma, edema (drug-induced or as a result of heart failure) and certain forms of epilepsy.
It’s widely used in the climbing fraternity to accelerate acclimatization as part of a well-planned ascent.
It’s a prescription-only oral medication and you’ll need to discuss with your doctor whether it’s right for you. If you have pre-existing conditions, kidney or liver complaints it may not be suitable.
According to the Wilderness Medical Society, the use of Diamox can significantly reduce the onset and subsequent severity of altitude sickness, by speeding up the body’s adaptation mechanisms. Several studies have confirmed that trekkers who take low doses of Diamox, in conjunction with a good acclimatization protocol, are less likely to develop mountain sickness, and if they do, it’s usually less severe.
Diamox is used as a preventative measure (prophylaxis) and does not cure altitude sickness.
How does Diamox work?
Acetazolamide is a sulfonamide medication that forces the kidneys to excrete bicarbonate. This action re-acidifies the blood, (making the body believe there is a build-up of Carbon Dioxide), which acts as a respiratory stimulant. The diuretic effect results in increased urination and the breathing stimulus can often help to mitigate the periodic breathing pattern during the night.
If you take Diamox, you’ll breathe deeper and urinate more.
Side Effects & Interactions of Diamox
The main side effects that climbers report are:
Diamox can interact with existing medications you are taking, and WebMD recommends checking the labels of all prescription and non-prescription medications for interactions and checking with your doctor.
Dosage of Diamox on Kilimanjaro
The Wilderness Medical Society’s recommended dosage is 125mg twice daily, starting two days before the start of your climb. Dr. Peter Hackett of the Institute for Altitude Medicineagrees. Anecdotal evidence has shown that in some individuals a dose of half this amount is effective as a prophylaxis.
Myths About Diamox
There are various stories that go round about the use of Diamox, some of which are just myths, here are some common ones you might come across:
Myth: Diamox masks the symptoms of altitude sickness
Reality: It doesn’t. It speeds up your body’s natural system for acclimatization. If you are actually sick, you will still have symptoms.
Myth: If you take Diamox, you won’t get altitude sickness.
Reality: You can still get altitude sickness even when you take Diamox. It helps you acclimatize, it doesn’t inoculate you against AMS.
Myth: Diamox will prevent AMS from getting worse as you climb
Reality: If you have symptoms of AMS, Diamox will not protect you once you have mountain sickness.
Myth: You need Diamox to summit Kilimanjaro
Reality: you don’t. Plenty of climbers summit Kilimanjaro comfortably and safely without it.
Myth: Taking Diamox to help acclimatize is “cheating”
Reality: It helps speed up the natural acclimatization process. You’ve come all this way, and you want to give yourself the best chance of a successful summit.
Myth: If you stop taking Diamox, symptoms will get worse
Reality: If you stop taking Diamox during your climb, your acclimatization will revert to the body’s natural rate, stopping Diamox won’t slow it down or make you ill.
Is Diamox Right for YOU?
Only your physician can answer that question. If you’re allergic to sulfa medications, no. It’s a matter of choice whether you want to take it, some people feel strongly about not taking unnecessary medication. It certainly is not necessary, others simply want to use every tool in the box to help them with the elevation. There’s no right or wrong, it’s a personal choice. (And obviously your doctor’s choice).
At your medical check-up, speak to your doctor about whether Diamox is right for you.
With your doctor’s permission, we recommend taking Diamox for a 2-4 day period as a ‘trial run’ to see if you experience any side effects a couple of weeks before you depart for Kilimanjaro. That way if you do have side effects from the medication, they won’t be mistaken for altitude sickness.
Alternatives to help Acclimatization
Every day we see different so-called ‘natural’ remedies springing up that claim to cure everything from cancer to hair loss. It’s no different with mountain sickness. Untested products spring up from time to time making exaggerated claims.
The only medication with consistent results from rigorous testing is Diamox.
There are a few common ones:
A Note about Ibuprofen
For minor pain relief on the mountain, ibuprofen is normally recommended as narcotic pain medications can result in slower breathing and can cause problems at altitude. If you are on pain medication for any reason, speak to your doctor.
If you have a headache whilst climbing, it’s important to speak to your guide before you take ibuprofen. A mild headache can be a very early signal of altitude sickness, and you don’t want to mask this and risk it worsening.
A Note about Malarone and Malaria On Kilimanjaro
As with most of Africa, malaria is always a concern when traveling through Tanzania. As the mosquitos are generally not found above 6000ft, you are relatively safe whilst on the mountain. However, you need to consider that you’ll be Moshi or Arusha before and after your climb, which is when you are most at risk.
Malaria is a parasite transmitted through the bite of the female anopheles mosquito. It only takes one bite to be infected, and the illness is serious, sometimes fatal.
Talk to your doctor about anti-malarial prophylaxis, and which is the most suitable for you and where you are traveling to. Malarone is a popular, but expensive brand, with the fewest reported side-effects. See the Hospital for Tropical Diseases to learn more.
A note about Larium: this particular anti-malarial has been reported to have side-effects mimic the symptoms of altitude sickness.
Taking prophylaxis (antimalarials) does not guarantee that you won’t contract malaria. The only foolproof way to prevent it is to avoid getting bitten by taking precautions:
Remember:
Questions? We’re here to help. Get in touch if you need help choosing your route, or planning your Tanzanian adventure.
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