Tips for preventing altitude sickness

Cusco is undoubtedly one of the most visited cities in Peru, however its
3399 meters above sea level makes many people afraid to visit it. In this post, we will give you all the recommendations on how to deal with soroche.
Altitude sickness is not something from another world, because this evil also happens in low-rise cities. When arriving in Cusco, the first symptoms will surely be feeling dizzy, nauseous and wanting to vomit before that moment, remember that everything is in your mind, if you think of something that is going to happen to you, then it is likely to happen to you like this that the first thing is to manage our mentality well.

10 tips for altitude sickness

We give you the 10 most important tips that you must take into account to prevent altitude sickness.

1. Altitude sickness is actually a disease also known as Soroche’s disease. This is due to hypoxia or hypoxia caused by high air pressure in high-altitude areas (masl). Once you understand evil, it will be easier to deal with it.
   There is no doubt that the best remedy is to adapt to the environment. This will last at least two days, depending on the organism of each person.
2. On the first day, it is recommended that you take a break and do not spend too much energy. for which you can organize trips around the city such as a city tour around the city or a short excursion around the city.
3. It is important to walk slowly and avoid activities that make you nervous. Always stay hydrated (it is best to drink water before you are thirsty, eat before you are hungry, bundle up before you catch a cold, etc.).
4. Food is a very important matter, so you must go off the diet! Apart from staying hydrated, you must be very well fed so that the climate of Cusco does not play tricks on you. Carbohydrates are good in these cases. The ideal is to eat foods rich in natural sugars. For example fruits, cereals; especially Andean grains like quinoa and kiwicha. Quinoa bars are perfect, try them, you will have a lot of energy and they are also very tasty.
5. The coca leaf tea is not a story. It is considered the secret against altitude sickness to stay strong and carry out activities that require a lot of strength. This infusion has a high content of nutrients and is directly related to the psychosomatic well-being of the human being. The Incas used to chew or “Chaqchar” coca leaves until they run out of flavor. The juice that emerges from the leaves is what contains many vitamins and nutrients, especially carbohydrates and calcium. At first, the taste is a bit bitter, but when you get used to it, the taste becomes more and more pleasant.
6. Now we will talk about more complicated cases, I am referring to people who for health reasons must take more drastic measures to be able to combat soroche for which there are pills (Sorojchi Pills), which can be found in the pharmacies of Cusco, some are in the center of the city, so it will not be difficult to find them. I recommend you buy them at authorized pharmacies to prevent any extra damage to your body.
7. Quite apart from this, in some or in most hotels in Cusco, they have oxygen, this will help passengers to breathe well. It is a measure that will help them anyway.
8. If travelers have heart and/or respiratory diseases they should consult their doctor before traveling.
9. If you plan to do a demanding trek such as the Inca Trail, Salkantay Trail or the Mountain of 7 Colors where you will pass 4000 m.a.s.l. It is recommended that you acclimatize for 2 or 3 days to the altitude, otherwise the consequences could damage your body and even take your life. Something that has happened in other agencies for not giving the necessary tips to their travelers.