La Paz is the highest capital city in the world and a wonderful place to visit. However, sudden ascent to La Paz s 10,000 to 13,000 feet can cause some problems for even healthy people. Please carefully read the following advice before coming to La Paz.
Anyone with high blood pressure, diabetes, angina, heart disease, anemia, hemaglobinopathies (e.g., sickle cell disease and trait), significant obesity, asthma, or emphysema must see their physician for clearance to come to altitude. Those with respiratory infections such as severe colds, bronchitis, or pneumonia should delay travel to La Paz until they have recovered. Pregnant women should consider delaying travel until after delivery or they should ascend gradually to altitude.
All visitors who fly into La Paz should take medication to prevent altitude
sickness. The La Paz Health Unit frequently admits visitors to local hospitals
for treatment of Acute Mountain Sickness, but rarely has to admit a visitor
who is taking prophylaxis. Make sure your visit to La Paz is as productive as
possible by taking a medication that will help you adjust to altitude quickly.
Ask your doctor for a prescription. Acetazolamide (Diamox) is the drug of choice.
The prophylactic dose for adults is 125mg twice a day, beginning 24 hours before
coming to La Paz until two days after arrival. Children over the age of five
should take 5mg/Kg of body weight every 12 hours. Acetazolamide is a sulfa-based
medication and should not be taken by anyone with a severe sulfa allergy. It
is also contraindicated in pregnancy. Common side effects include numbness and
tingling of hands and feet and frequent urination. These symptoms are minor,
short-lived and occur to show you that the medicine is working. If you cannot
take Diamox due to a sulfa allergy, dexamethasone (4mg every 12 hours) is a
good alternative.
To prevent the high-altitude headache that 50% of all new arrivals experience,
take one aspirin (325mg) every four hours, starting shortly before you arrive,
for a total of three doses. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated
fluids (fruit juices or water) on the airplane. You will have fewer adjustment
symptoms if you are well hydrated when you arrive. If you have a meal choice
on the plane, chose a high-carbohydrate/low-fat meal (usually pasta). Digestion
takes oxygen and a high fat meal is harder to digest.
Once you arrive in La Paz, take it easy. Avoid doing a lot of walking or lifting.
Don t plan on exercising for several weeks. Drink plenty of fluids. Water,
Gatorade, Koolaid, and herbal teas (sweetened) are especially helpful. Eat frequent,
small, carbohydrate-loaded meals (pasta, potatoes, rice, and non-chocolate candy).
Avoid eating heavy, high fat meals, especially at night.
Visitors to La Paz frequently develop severe bacterial diarrhea, often requiring
hospitalization. Be smart! Don' t drink the tap water. Don' t eat salads or
other raw fruits and vegetables. Order your meats well done and served hot.
And don' t eat food from sidewalk vendors.
For more information on altitude adjustment go to www.high-altitude-medicine.com