Have you ever dreamed of hiking Taiwan’s majestic Mt. Jade or visiting Peru’s breathtaking Machu Picchu? These adventures sound amazing, but there’s something you should know about first: “altitude sickness.” This condition strikes when you climb to a higher elevation too quickly. The higher you go, the thinner the air becomes, making it harder for your body to absorb oxygen.
The symptoms usually begin within hours of reaching high altitudes — about 2,500 meters or higher. You might experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue. These symptoms can last for several days. The severity of altitude sickness varies from person to person. Some people may only experience mild discomfort, while others may develop more serious symptoms, such as vomiting, confusion, or difficulty walking. Even if you’re young and fit, you’re not immune! Many teenage hikers are surprised when they experience symptoms of altitude sickness even though they are in excellent physical condition.
The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to ascend slowly, giving your body time to adjust. Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and consider spending a night at an intermediate elevation before going higher. Some travelers take medication to help, but you should always consult a doctor first.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / 照片：維基共享資源提供
Remember, altitude sickness is by no means a sign of weakness; it’s simply how bodies react to having less oxygen. Listen to your body, and if the symptoms get severe, descend to a lower altitude immediately. Your mountain adventure will be much more enjoyable when you can actually breathe.
你曾夢想過登上臺灣壯麗的玉山，或造訪秘魯令人屏息的馬丘比丘嗎？這些冒險聽起來很棒，但有一件事你應該先了解：高山症。這種情況發生在你過快地攀登到較高海拔時。海拔越高，空氣越稀薄，你的身體就越難吸收氧氣。
症狀通常在到達高海拔地區（約 2,500 公尺或更高）後數小時內開始出現。你可能會感到頭痛、眩暈、噁心、呼吸困難或極度疲勞。這些症狀可能持續幾天。高山症的嚴重程度因人而異。有些人可能只會感到輕微不適，而有些人則可能出現更嚴重的症狀，如嘔吐、意識混亂或行走困難。即使你年輕且健康，也不能免疫！很多青少年登山者訝異於儘管他們的身體狀況極佳，仍會出現高山症的症狀。
預防高山症的最佳方法是緩慢攀登，讓身體有時間適應。保持水分充足，避免飲酒，並考慮在攀登更高海拔之前，先在中間海拔過夜。有些旅客會服用藥物來幫助適應，但你應該先諮詢醫生。記住，高山症絕不是虛弱的表現；這只是身體對氧氣減少的反應。傾聽你的身體反應，如果症狀變得嚴重，立即下降到較低海拔。當你能夠順暢呼吸時，你的登山冒險將會更加愉快！
MORE INFORMATION
majestic adj. 雄偉的；壯麗的
Mt. Jade 玉山
Peru n. 秘魯
Machu Picchu 馬丘比丘（印加帝國古城遺蹟）
altitude sickness 高山症
elevation n. 海拔；高度
nausea n. 噁心
shortness of breath 呼吸困難
KEY VOCABULARY
1. absorb vt. 吸收
The walls are designed to absorb sound and reduce the noise in the room.
這些牆面被設計來吸收聲音並減少房間內的噪音。
2. oxygen n. 氧氣
The nurse placed an oxygen mask on the patient to help with his breathing.
護士為病人戴上氧氣罩，幫助他呼吸。
3. symptom n. 症狀
A sore throat and a high fever are common symptoms of the flu.
喉嚨痛和高燒是流感的常見症狀。
4. fatigue n. 疲憊；勞累
Drivers must take breaks often to avoid fatigue and stay alert on the road.
駕駛者必須經常休息，以避免疲勞並在行駛時保持警覺。
5. severity n. 嚴重程度
severe adj. 嚴重的；劇烈的；嚴厲的
The doctor explained the severity of the illness and suggested immediate treatment.
醫生解釋了病情的嚴重性，並建議立刻治療。
6. vomit v. 嘔吐
Jimmy started to vomit after eating some bad seafood at the night market.
吉米在夜市吃了壞掉的海鮮後開始嘔吐。
7. ascend v. 上升；攀登
We watched the airplane ascend slowly into the sky and disappear into the clouds.
我們看著飛機慢慢升上天空，消失在雲裡。
8. intermediate adj. 中間的；居中的
The trail is not for beginners; it’s for intermediate hikers with more experience.
這條登山路線不適合初學者；它是給較有經驗的中級登山客。
9. medication n. 藥物
Some cold medications can make people sleepy, so read the label before use.
有些感冒藥會讓人想睡，所以使用前要看標籤。
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