All About Altitude Illness Altitude Illness from emedicine online Altitude Illness Advice High Altitude Mountaineering Safety Outdoor Action Guide to High Altitude One of the odd things about altitude sickness is that it's unpredictable. Even Sherpas, whose bodies are well adapted to these heights after generations of living at altitude, can be struck with these illnesses. But all climbers take precautions to lessen the perils. They spend time at various levels to let their bodies adjust to the thinner air. They will stay at Basecamp, where there is half the amount of oxygen available at sea level, for several days before heading up to Camp I for an overnight stay.
Fluids can help climbers acclimatize.
Next, they'd head right to Camp II for an overnight stay, climbing up to Camp III for a day, and so on until their bodies are fully acclimatized. The body actually undergoes physiological changes as it's taken to higher altitudes. Taking time to rest at each level lets the circulatory system produce more red blood cells to carry oxygen to all the muscles and tissues. Although there are rules, and most intelligent climbers follow them, it seems ultimately it is Chomolungma, the Tibetan word for Everest, goddess mother, who decides. Those who initially seem strong suddenly get weak, those who remain strong can be turned back by bad weather.