Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
How to manage 4070 m altitude with severe sleep apnea?
I'm a healthy 67 year old, diagnosed with severe sleep apnea in 2008. I will travel to South America where the highest sleeping location will be 4070m but we will travel over passes at 5,000 m. Have just read, with concern, about sleep apnea and altitude sickness. I suffered from altitude sickness 27 years ago, but I was ok after a couple of days. I am allergic to septrin, which I understand means that it would be unwise to take Diamox. I have a travelling CPAP machine which adjusts pressure up to 2,300 m only. How does sleep apnea affect altitude sickness? Would sleeping at 45% angle help? Is there a way of managing the condition? Is it possible to have an altitude simulation test and would it help? Many thanks.
