Altitude Sickness in Athletes: Prevention, Symptoms, and Safe Adaptation Protocols

While Kenya’s running capitals sit below the danger thresholds for High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), the transition from sea level to 2,400 meters can still trigger acute mountain sickness if not handled with medical vigilance.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Altitude Distress

Monitor your body each morning using the Lake Louise Altitude Sickness Score. Warning signs include:

• Bifrontal throbbing headache that worsens when bending forward
• Loss of appetite and nausea during post-run meals
• Disrupted sleep architecture characterized by Cheyne-Stokes periodic breathing
• Unexplained elevated morning resting heart rate (>15 bpm above baseline)

The 48-Hour Protocol for New Arrivals

When our camps receive athletes at Eldoret International Airport (2,100m) and transfer them to Iten (2,400m), we enforce the Rule of Low Exertion: zero running for the first 24 hours, gentle 20-minute flat walks on Day 2, and monitored pulse-oximeter readings before clearance for easy jogging.