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There are several altitude sickness symptoms. Onset of headache may develop early on. It is usually throbbing in nature and worsening during the night and when you wake up. Other non-specific symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite and sleep disturbance. Severe altitude sickness may present with pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs and cerebral edema or fluid and swelling within the brain, but only happens at very high altitude. The symptoms of altitude sickness usually occur between six to 24 hours after reaching the appropriate elevation. Symptoms of mild short-term altitude sickness lessen in one or two days as the body adjusts. Unfortunately, most of the symptoms of altitude sickness do not immediately indicate that the patient has it. It is very easy to brush them off as symptoms of other things. Simple tiredness, illness, and even a hangover, if the patient had alcohol of some kind. Symptoms of severe altitude sickness require immediate medical attention. If you develop shortness of breath, other forms of difficulty breathing, loss of coordination, confusion, and a severe persistent headache, see a physician immediately.
