Altitude Sickness - Expert's Advices for Travel to Tibet

In a recent interview, the President of the Tibet Mountain Sickness and Cardiovascular Disease Research Institute, Mr. Cen Weijun answered some questions regarding the health concern of many tourists for travelling to Tibet.

Taking train or plane to Tibet, which way is better?

Since the inauguration of the Qinhai-Tibet railway, there are over 1,000 tourists travelling to Tibet by train every day. Many think taking train to Tibet can better help acclimatization gradually and ease the altitude stress, for which however, the expert said both ways have their advantages.

Mr. Cen Weijun said “To judge if a transport means can be helpful to the altitude acclimatization, two aspects shall be considered. The first is to see if it can help resist the oxygen lack and the second is to see if the journey can be controlled in a short time to avoid a tired trip.”

According to his analysis, the environment in the plane is sealed and under good control in temperature and air pressure. So though flying in the sky, you won’t feel any difference from that when you are at lower altitude. But in the train, it is a ‘comparative sealed’ environment and you may feel the same as that of outside which can cause altitude stress easily due to lack of oxygen.

Though on the Qinhai-Tibet trains, it supplies oxygen in a diffuse type which can help ease the altitude stress, Mr. Cen Weijun believes that the long tired journey, on the other hand, can induce the mountain sickness.

Does altitude sickness have connection with gender and body type?

Many people believe female will have less altitude stress than male, shorter and thinner people will have fewer problems with it. For this, the expert said it is some misunderstanding. Mr Cen said “There is no direct connection with gender or body type. Altitude stress appears when your body hasn’t yet adapted to the fast increase of the altitude and the unbalance supply and demand of oxygen. People who have better acclimatization shall be able to get used to the high altitude environment more easily.”

Keep warm and have good rest is important！

Some tourists found they did not have any obvious altitude symptoms after arrived in Lhasa and started many sightseeing activities immediately. But after one or two days, they felt very uncomfortable. For this situation, Mr. Cen emphasized that in the first few days after arrival in Lhasa, it is important to take good rest, avoid staying up late, alcohol, strenuous exercises and over-fatigue. At the meantime, as the day-night temperature difference is big in Tibet, it is necessary to add clothes whenever necessary to avoid catching a cold. Cold and URI are among the main causes for the mountain sickness (pneumonedema, hydrocephalus, etc.). He suggests no activity on arrival at hotels except rest.

But what to do if feel uncomfortable after enter into Tibet?

According to the expert, firstly you shall take rest, inhale oxygen and if you do not getting any better after 3 or 4 hours, it is necessary to see a doctor in the hospital.

Overstress can cause altitude sickness more easily.

Many tourists fear the altitude sickness but there are more chances to get it if you are too nervous. Mr. Cen advises tourists to adjust mentality before travelling to Tibet. He said “Altitude sickness can be conquered. For the moment, we have the world-class skills in preventing and curing altitude sickness so even tourists fell ill with it, it is not necessary to be worried.” Taking it easy can help you overcome the mountain sickness more easily.

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