At Indiahikes we pride ourselves to be the safest trekking organisation in India. It is natural that our conversations often revolve around how to make high altitude trekking a safer experience.

Today, we discuss whether trekkers with high blood pressure levels can trek at high altitudes.

Very often, we are asked about why we take BP readings before trekkers start their treks. A lot of trekkers end up frustrated when we turn them around because of a severe rise in blood pressure.

It’s an often misunderstood concept, yet something extremely prevalent among trekkers.

Lakshmi Selvakumaran, our Head of Learning and Development team, estimates that there is at least one person with high blood pressure when we take BP readings at the start of the trek (that is one in 20).

To understand this topic better, I spoke to a few experts at Indiahikes and outside. I interviewed Dr. Sreelakshmi Thirumoorthy at length. Dr Sree is our go-to medical practitioner. She is a high altitude trekker and a keen researcher on the effects of high altitude on human physiology.

I also spoke to Sandhya UC, the co-founder of Indiahikes, Vijeet Shaw, a senior Trek Leader at Indiahikes and Reena Shah, an experienced high altitude trekker and physiotherapist.

How does altitude affect blood pressure levels?

“Having observed trekkers for over 12 years, I can say there is a direct impact of altitude on blood pressure,” says Sandhya UC, co-founder of Indiahikes.

“We’ve seen that trekkers who have completely normal readings in the plains show higher BP readings when they reach the base camp. Many of them are surprised by this. But this is normal at high altitude,” continues Sandhya.

Trekker and physiotherapist Reena Shah agrees. “My BP shot up to a reading of 190 (systolic) right at the base camp of Kedarkantha. I have a known case of hypertension. But it was in control without medication for over 4 months before my trek. I have been trekking for many years, and I’ve seen this happen to me at Sar Pass, Hampta Pass and most of my other treks,” she adds.

While it’s normal for one’s BP to rise, it gets worrying when it rises beyond a certain point.

“We have seen that trekkers with uncontrolled blood pressure are more susceptible to strokes and heart attacks,” says Sandhya, who has been witness to such a situation herself, when a trekker suffered a cardiac arrest without warning. Only later did we learn from his family that he had an existing issue of hypertension. 

“Your pulse increases considerably when you climb to high altitudes. It is your body’s way of acclimatizing. Along with a high pulse rate, such high exertion can be detrimental for those with high blood pressure,” she adds.

Reena adds, “It’s also medically known that blood pressure is generally higher in winter or cold temperatures. Because of the low temperatures, your blood vessels narrow down. This means more pressure is needed to push blood through your arteries and veins. So when you’re on a high altitude trek in the Himalayas, it’s natural for one’s BP to rise, especially those who are already hypertensive.”

Since high BP has no observable symptoms, it can get even riskier. This is why our Trek Leaders always carry a sphygmomanometer in their high altitude medical kits.

Your pulse increases at high altitudes to acclimatize better. Along with an increased pulse and high exertion, high blood pressure could put you at risk.

“Frankly, there aren’t too many medical studies on how altitude affects blood pressure. But our Trek Vitals app data, which we are studying now, will be crucial in helping us understand the effects of high altitude on blood pressure,” says Sandhya.

For a detailed understanding of what happens to your body on a high-altitude trek, click here.

I have high blood pressure. Can I sign up for a high altitude trek?

The short answer, according to Dr.Sreelakshmi, is YES, you can. We’ve had many trekkers with a history of high blood pressure trek with us successfully.

If your blood pressure is under control and stable, and you have been engaging in regular physical activity, you should have no problem going for a high-altitude trek.

If you have poorly controlled or very labile hypertension, you should consult a doctor, get your blood pressure under control for at least one month before heading out to the mountains.

“This is where I would suggest that trekkers with a history of hypertension start off with easier treks that climb to just around 12,000 ft. These treks would help them test the waters at high altitudes, yet, they’d be able to exit quickly in case the need arises,” advises Dr. Sreelakshmi.

This table will give you an understanding of whether or not you can trek with your history of Blood Pressure

Based on clearance from the doctor and BP levels are stable and lower than 160/100 at least a month prior to the trek. Incorporate a strict diet along with a daily exercise routine

What are the blood pressure guidelines that Indiahikes follows?

 At Indiahikes, we take blood pressure readings of all our trekkers at the base camp on the first day of the trek.

Our criterion is that your blood pressure readings are lower than 160/100 before setting off on a trek.

This number has been decided upon after consulting with medical experts and our experience with trekkers with high BP or heart conditions.

Those who have readings at or just slightly above the cut-off mark are encouraged to take an extra day to acclimatize to see if their blood pressure readings fall within our permissible limits. If possible, they can even join the next group heading for the trek.

While this might be disappointing for trekkers, we believe that the health and safety of those trekking with us come first and foremost.

Indiahikes Trek Leaders take down blood pressure readings of all trekkers at the base camp. They keep a close eye on trekkers with high BP and return trekkers whose BP rises above 160/100 mm Hg.

On the other hand, our senior Trek Leader, Vijeet Shaw, brings my attention to the possibility of blood pressure levels dropping low during a trek.

While low blood pressure levels can be brought up by giving food and medication, readings of below 100/60 are considered a danger sign, and trekkers are advised to head back to base camp.

As Vijeet quite simply points out — The mountains will always be there! Your life and safety are of higher priority.

Did you know? You might have noticed that your blood pressure reading has two numbers. E.g., 110/75 mm Hg. The first number is the systolic blood pressure and measures the pressure on your arteries when your heart beats. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure and calculates the pressure on your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

As someone with a history of high blood pressure, how can I get ready for a high-altitude trek?

There are several things you can do to prepare yourself for a high-altitude trek.

1. Get a green signal from your doctor —  Share your plans to go on a high-altitude trek with your doctor so that they can make modifications to your current regimen, if necessary.

2. Exercise regularly —  We can’t stress this point enough. Regular physical exercise of any kind, makes your heart stronger. It helps to pump more blood with less effort. Hence, the force on your arteries decreases, lowering your blood pressure.

Start on an exercise regime at least one month before the trek and stick to it. Indiahikes shares a detailed exercise plan ahead of your trek that is meant to get you ready for the adventure ahead. Try to follow this as closely as you can.

Incorporate brisk walks, short runs, HIIT, endurance training, stair climbs into your daily exercise routine. Plan short day treks near your city. These activities will get your body ready for the actual trek.

3. Practice Pranayama — Many studies suggest that regular pranayama helps control blood pressure levels, particularly amongst those with mild hypertension. But these practices take time to show effect. Lakshmi suggests you make it part of your daily routine as soon as you decide on signing up for a high-altitude trek.

4. Inculcate healthy eating habits —  Stick to a well-balanced diet, high on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Cut down on foods that are high in salt, sugar, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

5. Check your BP regularly —  Get your blood pressure checked at least a month before a trek and then at regular intervals to make sure your BP levels are stable. If possible, check your blood pressure levels after a strenuous workout. It will give you an idea of how your body will react on a trek.

6. Start small —  If you are relatively new to trekking, we recommend starting with an easy to moderate trek. This will help your body adapt gradually and give you a good idea of how well prepared you are.

Some of the easy-moderate treks we recommend are Dayara Bugyal, Deoriatal-Chandrashila, Kedarkantha, Brahmatal. Apart from not being too strenuous, these are treks from which you can exit within a matter of hours, if the need arises.

What does Indiahikes do to support trekkers with a history of high BP?

Before your Trek — As soon as you sign up for your trek, your Experience Coordinator gets in touch with you to get to know you better. If you have any health-related issues, let your Experience Coordinator know. Our ECs are all trekkers themselves and have the expertise to guide you towards the right kind of preparation.

At the Base Camp — A blood pressure reading is taken on the first morning of the trek before breakfast. Our Trek Leaders take note of any medical conditions you may have and medications that you are currently on.

During the Trek — If your BP falls between 140/90 and 160/100, you automatically go on our watch list, and our Trek Leaders will keep track of your readings once or twice a day during the trek. If necessary, our Trek Leader may prescribe a low or no salt diet to get blood pressure levels stable and within permissible limits.

The Indiahikes team keeps track of every trekker’s blood pressure during the trek through our specially designed Trek Vitals app.

What precautions should I take during a trek if I have a history of high blood pressure?

1. Communicate with your Trek Leader —  During your Safety Check-In at the basecamp, discuss any health conditions that might need attention with your Trek Leader. Provide a list of all medications you are taking. Remember, the more information we have on your health conditions, the more we will be in a position to help you.

2. Reach your base camp a day earlier — This is so that you give your body enough time to get acclimatized. Make sure you get adequate sleep in the days leading to your trek. Another hack is to take a journey break during your drive to the base camp. Try to stay overnight at a beautiful scenic place that is roughly half-way on your journey.

3. Pace yourself —  As you start your trek, remember that this is not a race. Maintain a steady pace and take breaks for water and energy-boosting snacks. Of course, don’t forget to enjoy the ‘breath’taking views.

4. Go easy on salty foods —  Skip the pickle, papad, and ORS and load up on dals and veggies.

5. Hydrate and rest well — Make sure you drink enough water and get enough shut-eye.

6. Carry an adequate supply of your medications — We advise our trekkers to carry sufficient quantities of their medication. And most importantly, don’t forget to take your medicines as prescribed by your doctor.

At Indiahikes, we have always believed that everyone must trek. We have seen trekkers radically change their lifestyles for the better after their treks — sometimes reversing BP issues, sometimes even diabetes.

Our Trek Leader Vijeet Shaw sums it up for us. He states emphatically, “People with high blood pressure can definitely trek. It needs more awareness and discipline on the side of the trekker.

“As long as you consult your doctor, physically prepare yourself for the adventure and keep a check on your blood pressure readings, you can head out for a high altitude trek.”

If you have always wanted to sign up for a high-altitude trek but hesitated due to blood pressure issues, let us know if this article helped answer some of your questions and concerns.

Many trekkers worry about trekking at high altitudes with high blood pressure. Is it safe? Is it dangerous? Find out from the experts.

Can you Trek at High Altitude with High Blood Pressure?

Dehydration is serious business on a trek. It is one of the biggest ailments that holds back trekkers from completing treks. The symptoms of dehydration are so similar to those of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). So, often, trekkers confuse the two. Our founder, Arjun Majumdar explains how to recognise dehydration and what to do about it.

Simply put, dehydration occurs when the amount of liquid a person loses is more than the amount he gains. When on treks, it is easy to get hot and sweat a lot. At high altitudes, because of decreased pressure, you breathe deeper and faster. More water vapour is lost through breathing. The body’s natural response to this is to activate mechanisms to regain normal temperature. Losing heat in this case involves sweating, which again loses vital water stores.

The symptoms of dehydration are (in increasing order of the appearance of the symptom): 

Temperature drop, especially the extremities

At a moderate stage, dehydration can cause abnormalities in sodium and potassium levels in the body. To counter the effects on the body, it is important to drink plenty of water to replace the lost fluids. Dehydration is a serious condition and can need hospitalisation.

Another reason it is important to stay hydrated is that the symptoms are similar to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Confusion with dehydration can be avoided by staying hydrated, allowing for easy recognition of AMS.

If you aren’t drinking enough and think you might be dehydrated, conduct these two simple tests on yourself immediately:

1. Examine your urine. Clear or straw coloured urine denotes sufficient liquid intake. A dark orange or yellow tint means waste is concentrated and so you should drink more, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

2. Lightly pinch a soft area of skin such as the back of your hand and it doesn’t return to its normal position quickly then it is likely that you are dehydrated.

Dehydration is a killer on the hills and very few realize it. At your base camp, you will start to dehydrate just by doing nothing. You need to drink 5-6 litres of water every day on the trek. If you are not used to this, it can be difficult. As a tip, start practising to drink 5-6 litres of water everyday, 15 days before your trek. Never drink more than 500 – 600 ml at a time.

Remedial action: If on the trek, you feel uneasy or short of breath or just tired, perhaps with a mild headache, suspect dehydration. Drink one  litre of water and take a Disprin. If your uneasiness or headache has not disappeared totally in an hour, then you could have been struck by AMS. Talk to your Trek Leader immediately.

Note on AMS: Please read this article on AMS and why the use of Diamox accelerates acclimatization: 

To accelerate acclimatisation, we advise trekkers to be on a course of Diamox while on the trek. Start the course a day before you reach the camp. 

Please note: While Diamox is a harmless enough drug, it is not recommended for those who are allergic to sulpha drugs or have high/low BP issues. Please check with your doctor before starting on a course.

How should AMS and dehydration be tackled? Here is a brief info.

Dehydration at High Altitudes - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

In this post, I’m talking about something you would surely want to know — how to prevent altitude sickness.

I’d like to first put a disclaimer — there’s no foolproof way of preventing altitude sickness.

All these methods I’m putting down will reduce your chances of getting altitude sickness. And from our experience, they’re worth it.

I’m going to break this down into three parts.

Plan Your Itinerary

As you already know, altitude sickness occurs when your body has not acclimatised well enough to the altitude.

Giving your body enough time to acclimatise is the most effective way to avoid altitude sickness.

That’s why you’ll see that we have “acclimatisation days” on our high-altitude treks like Rupin Pass, Pin Bhaba Pass, and Goechala. These are days where you simply rest at a particular campsite, without too much exertion.

A screenshot of Pin Bhaba Pass Trek itinerary

So, splitting your itinerary as much as possible and taking it slow is most effective in preventing altitude sickness.

However, keep in mind that the amount of time required to acclimatise is different for every individual. Ideally, you should increase your sleeping altitude just by 1,000 ft every day.

But the Indian Himalayas climb very quickly. The difference in altitude between camps is high, usually between two and three thousand feet. This is because there is either no place to camp in between or there are no water sources etc.

We call this a “forced accent”. You are forced to ascend more than required.

This makes you more susceptible to altitude sickness.

A Preventive Course of Diamox

There are certain medicines that help you acclimatise faster.

Trekkers and mountaineers all over the world use a medicine called Acetazolamide (Diamox) to acclimatise faster.

This medicine is a diuretic. Our founder wrote a detailed article about how Diamox works. Give it a read.

In a nutshell, though, this medicine helps you acclimatise faster by increasing your breathing rate.

So for most treks that gain altitude too quickly, taking a preventive course of Diamox really helps. Especially if your trek climbs above 13,000 – 14,000 ft.

In fact, even for those who suddenly go up to high altitudes, like those who drive or fly to Leh, we recommend Diamox.

| Dosage: Start with a dosage of 125 mg (half a tablet) every 12 hours 2 days prior to your trek (usually when you arrive at Delhi). Increase it to 250 mg (full tablet) every 12 hours from the day you get to the base camp and continue until you complete the trek.

| Side effects: There aren’t too many side effects of taking Diamox. You feel a numbness/tingling sensation in your hands and feet. You pee more often (which means the medicine is doing its job). Some claim that they get a bit of loose motions after Diamox. Generally, a Digene takes care of this.

Keep in mind that Diamox is a sulfa-based drug. If you’re allergic to sulphides, avoid Diamox.

As an alternative to Diamox, you could keep a strip of Dexamethasone tablets with you. This is a steroid and reduces muscle inflammation in the body. It does not help speed up acclimatisation per se. So if you get hit by AMS, take Dex as an alternative. The dosage is 4 mg every six hours. Avoid taking Dex as preventive medicine though.

While Diamox reduces the chances of AMS hitting you, it isn’t a fool-proof medicine. Even those who are on a course of Diamox can get hit by AMS.

So it’s important for your body to do its bit to acclimatise.

Working on Fitness

It’s imperative that you prepare your body to function well with lesser oxygen. You can do this by simply increasing your cardiovascular endurance.

Cardiovascular endurance is basically the ability of your lungs, heart and blood vessels to deliver oxygen to your body. Naturally, someone with higher cardiovascular endurance has a higher probability of acclimatising faster to high altitude.

Although there’s no proven correlation between altitude sickness and fitness, we can talk from experience. On our treks, we have found that it’s usually unfit people who are more prone to AMS. When I’m talking about being unfit, I’m not talking about overweight or underweight. I’m talking about plain physical endurance.

Funnily though, we’ve also seen that super-fit trekkers climb too quickly, and then suffer from AMS at the next camp. If you are fit, keep the ego behind. Climb slowly.

Are hydration, a good diet and warmth helpful in preventing altitude sickness?

By themselves, none of them are strong points to keep altitude sickness at bay. But together, they help in the general well-being of your body which could reduce the chances of altitude sickness.

Hydration helps your body function smoothly. You need at least 4 litres of water every day on a high-altitude trek. Every time you urinate, drink enough water, to keep the colour as close to colourless as possible. If it is deep coloured you know you are dehydrated.

Even diet plays an equally important role. It’s important to eat well at high altitudes, but not eat too much. We don’t recommend a diet that’s very high in protein. High protein is harder for your body to break down. That’s why we don’t serve meat on our treks. A low-salt, wholesome meal is what we recommend.

Warmth is especially required when you expect temperatures below 5 degrees (which happens on most Himalayan treks). You must especially keep your head, your core, your hands and feet warm. So having enough layers, a woollen cap, gloves and woollen socks are mandatory on high altitude treks. We have seen far too many trekkers in just one or two layers of clothes telling us that they are OK with the cold, that they are not feeling cold. They are simply being heroic, but their core body temperature is dropping.

5 Common Myths About AMS | Altitude Sickness Debunked

Things to Avoid

Alcohol is a big NO, especially if you are not acclimatised to the altitude. I made a video on why it is bad for you a while ago. Watch it here.

Smoking anything is not good either because it’s directly inhibiting the capacity of your lungs to send out oxygen to your body.

Both drinking and smoking cause dehydration and that’s the last thing you need on your trek!

Overexertion is again something you must avoid at high altitudes. Don’t try to cram too much into your itinerary. Take it slow and give your body the rest it needs.

With that, I’m ending my 4-part series on altitude and the body. I hope these articles have left you more informed and that you’ll be able to identify and tackle altitude sickness if you see it.

I’m putting down the links to the previous articles here. Make sure you bookmark them for future use.

> What happens to your body at high altitude

> What are Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), HAPE and HACE?

Prevention of Altitude Sickness with Diamox | How Diamox Works | Dosage and other ways to prevent AMS, HAPE and HACE

How To Prevent Altitude Sickness (AMS), HAPE and HACE

prevention of acute mountain sickness, acute mountain sickness prevention, how to prevent acute mountain sickness, how to prevent high altitude pulmonary edema, high altitude pulmonary edema prevention, how to prevent high altitude cerebral edema

Let’s talk about what happens to your body at high altitudes.

Travelling in the Himalayas implies that you will be at high altitudes and it’s important for you to know about the effects of high altitudes on the human body. 

Have you noticed that we have used the word travelling & not trekking? Because your body reacts to the high altitude (more than 8,000 ft.), no matter if you trek in the Himalayas or bike ride in Khardung La. I want you to note that high-altitude effects are not just implied for trekking. This article is a mandatory reading for anyone planning their trip or trek in the high altitude. 

Attention: You should read twice if you plan to climb any of the 15-16,000-ers like Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Pin Bhaba Pass, Bali Pass, Kedartal Trek, Khopra Ridge and Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Ri.

What happens to the air at high altitude?

First, let’s talk about what happens to the air at high altitude

You must know that anything above 8,000 ft from sea level is a high altitude.

At this high altitude, the air pressure drops and there’s less oxygen available in the air.

At a lower altitude, say, at sea level, there’s a certain amount of pressure in the air. At this pressure, air particles are pressed together, making the oxygen content in the air more concentrated. So one deep breath of air at sea level will give you a lot of oxygen.

However, as you climb higher, this pressure decreases. Air particles get scattered about. Consequently, even the oxygen in the air gets scattered. So the same deep breath of air at high altitude gives you lesser oxygen content.

This is what people often call “thin air” or “rarified air”.

It’s not less oxygen. It’s just a lesser concentration of oxygen because of the lower pressure.

To give you an idea, the air pressure at sea level is 101.3 kPa (kilopascal). However, as you climb to around 16,000 ft (the altitude of Pin Bhaba Pass), the pressure drops dramatically to 54.8 kPa. Higher up, at around 29,028 ft (the altitude of Everest), it further drops to 30.8 kPa.

That’s less than one-third of the air pressure at sea level!

Oxygen concentration at different altitudes

That’s why you cannot suddenly climb from sea level to 29,500 ft in a day.  That would be like stepping out of an aeroplane in mid-air. (Most commercial planes fly at this altitude.) Your body will not cope with it.

It takes days for your body to adjust at high altitudes – which is why most of our high-altitude treks are around 8 days long with rest days in between.

This action of “coping up” by your body is called acclimatisation.

What happens to your body at high altitudes?

Well, your body is used to a certain amount of oxygen at sea level.

When it suddenly gets lesser oxygen, it naturally tries to compensate by trying to take in more oxygen.

Next, your body recognises that there is less oxygen in your blood — so it compensates by increasing the quantity of oxygenated blood.

This means your heart starts pumping faster. Your pulse rate increases.

Third, your bone marrow, which is responsible for managing your blood count, starts producing more red blood cells. Red blood cells are the vehicles that carry around blood in your body.

But having too many red blood cells is not good for you. They can cause a sort of traffic jam in your body.

Think of the consistency of ketchup. That’s how your blood could become. It could also clot. Especially during times of inactivity.

Now, since both, your lungs and heart, are working harder than usual, your body tries getting rid of any excess baggage that it might be housing. It does this by getting rid of excess fluids — what it perceives as useless body weight.

The scientific term for this is diuresis. A book I was reading by Stephen Bezruchka on this subject said you can lose nearly 2% of your body weight in water!

So at high altitudes, it’s normal to wake up at night to pee. If you’ve gone on a trek, it would explain all those midnight nature calls.

Another thing that may happen to your body is that you sleep less.

Often, your body forgets to breathe deep in your sleep. And your brain suddenly wakes you up to remind you to breathe! So if you don’t sleep too well at high altitudes, it’s normal. Remember, it’s just the changes going through the body at high altitudes and a way for your body to acclimatise.

What do you need to know about these changes in your body?

The thing you need to know about all these changes in your body is that your body goes through these changes even while you’re resting.

This has nothing to do with trekking or mountaineering or any exercise.

Even if you’re simply lying down at a high altitude, your body is spending a lot of energy, because it’s in overdrive.

Note that everything I have mentioned till now is about your body’s natural reaction to altitude gain. They aren’t abnormal changes. They are not “symptoms” of anything.

Most of our bodies go through these changes and adjust well to altitude. But sometimes, our body might respond more slowly, or may not respond at all.

That’s when we get altitude sickness, otherwise known as High Altitude Sickness.

If we understand the science behind it, it is not difficult to treat altitude sickness.

The biggest problem trekkers face is a lack of knowledge. Which is why I am writing this article.

I want you to start learning these things if you’re a high-altitude trekker. If you already know these things, share your knowledge with others. The more you learn, the less dependent your life will be on others. For all you know, you could save someone else’s life!

In other articles, I have talked about how to prevent and treat altitude sickness. Make sure you bookmark them:

What is Acute Mountain Sickness? Understanding AMS, HAPE and HACE

How To Treat Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)

I hope you found this article helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask me if you have any questions. Also, if you think I’ve missed something feel free to mention it in the comments section below.

Changes in the human body at high altitudes. Here's everything you need to know before embarking on a high altitude trek.

What Happens to Your Body at High Altitudes

high altitude effects, effects of high altitude on the human body, high altitude effects on body, effects of high altitude, effects of altitude on the body, effects of high altitude on humans, high altitude effects on human body, altitude effects on body

What Happens to Your Body at High Altitudes?

What makes your stomach misbehave as you huff and puff on your way to the summit? Here, we dig out tummy trouble stories and find ways to set the unfortunate problem right.

“Hurry up!” Saranbir Singh frantically waved to the four trekkers who were trailing behind him on the trek to Roopkund on May 25, 2013. It was D-day for Saranbir who was on his first trek with Indiahikes as an assistant trek lead.

“Just after we departed, I felt my tummy twist in an unpleasant way,” Saranbir said. While our now Head of Research and Development, Manish Pasad was leading the team, Saranbir was somewhere in the middle with four trekkers following him.

“I was dying to go and relieve myself, but first I had to wait for the trekkers to go past.” The moment the four trekkers hiked past, Saranbir ran behind a tree and, well, attained “nirvana.” While Saranbir did face a fair amount of discomfort, he was able to complete the trek with the help of some medicines that controlled his loose motion.

Sometimes, the situation gets beyond control. Our trekker Harsha Deepak, who attempted the Chadar Trek in January 2015, recounts a sad story involving tummy troubles during one of his previous treks.

“This happened during the trek to Kumaraparvata in the Western Ghats,” Harsha begins. “We had a friend and fellow trekker with us who didn’t like being told. So whatever we told him to do, he did just the opposite. During lunch we told to him to eat light – rest of us had one dosa each – but he gobbled up four dosas!”

The result was disastrous. The errant friend’s stomach protested vehemently. He got dehydrated from the frequent visits to the loo and had to be grudgingly left out of the last leg of the trek.

Green Trail expert of Indiahikes, Izzat Ansari has also experienced a grumpy stomach. “I continuously felt like I had to relieve myself while on the trek to Roopkund. Guess it was just the stomach getting used to the stress and the high altitude,” Izzat said, then added, “But I also suspect it had something to do with the water we drank at a village on the trail.”

“It all stems from the fact that your immune system takes a hit when you’re climbing high altitudes,” says Arjun Majumdar, founder of Indiahikes, “Because your body is taking up lot of physical stress during the trek, your natural defenses dip. Your stomach, in such cases, is the first organ to get affected.”

That means a teeny-weeny pathogen, which otherwise could have been harmless, poses difficulty in conditions when the body’s defences are compromised. Top it with a dollop of junk food and you’ve speed-dialled tummy troubles.

“Trekkers don’t always keep a check on the food they eat before reaching the camp”, complained one of our experience coordinators, who prepares everyone for the treks. “Then they blame it on the water in the mountains.”

So a sensible thing to do would be to keep away from greasy junk food while on your way to the base camp. No momos, no chaat; just nod in affirmative when you see the simple dal, chawal, roti and sabzi. “Use your common sense,” nudges Arjun.

“If the trekker has made just 3-4 rounds to the loo, we let him/her be so that the body flushes out the pathogens and acclimatizes naturally,” Arjun says, “but if the frequency of loo-visits goes up to 7-8, a course of an antibiotic – such as Norflox – is advised.”

To conclude, I will leave you with the following pointers you should keep in mind:

1. Get your bowel movements in a routine. This could take some days, so begin a couple of weeks before your trek

2. Steer clear of street/junk food a couple of days before landing at the trekking destination.

5. Keep your personal dose of medicine handy in case of emergencies.

6. In the end, the trick is to be prepared for such situations and to stay calm.

If you have overcome your tummy troubles on your trek, let me know the steps you followed in the comments below!

It can really be burdensome when you have tummy troubles on a trek. But why does it happen? How can you steer away from it? Find out here.

Acclimatization And Altitude

Treks by Categories

Treks by Month

Treks by Difficulty

Treks by Experience

Treks by Season

Treks by Duration

Treks by Region

Quick Links

Follow Us On

Contact Us

Bengaluru Office

Dehradun Office