Health During Nepal Treks

Most trekkers will not experience more than an upset stomach, but some precautions should definitely be taken. On a high-altitude trek altitude sickness is a definitely concern and it is advise to read the section on it in the health section.
The main precaution is to take care on the water that you drink. You should drink plenty of water while trekking. All water should be treated. Just because water is coming from a clean looking mountain streams does not mean that it is drinkable. If there is a village or animal upstream they can be contaminating the water. It is a good idea to treat your water, as bad water is the most common cause of disease while trekking. Iodine is the most effective method. You should wait 15 minutes before drinking the water. Chlorine tablets do not kill all germs such as amoebas and giardia, but is also effective.

Just because water has been boiled does not mean it is safe, as it has to be boiled for a while to kill all the germs and water comes to a boil at a lower temperature in higher altitudes.

As diarrhea can really ruin a trek it may be a good idea to carry Imodium or Lomotil, or an antibiotic like norfloxacin. These medicines should not be used lightly and should only be taken not prescribed by a doctor in an emergency, because they may have serious side effects.

Knee strains are common especially while going downhill carrying your own pack. If you tend to have a knee problem it is a good idea to carry an elastic bandages (ace bandage) for support. Having a porter carry your bag will reduce knee strain. Good boot reduce the risk of an ankle sprain.

To avoid blusters you should make sure your shoes are well broken in and wear thick socks. Also if your socks get wet, you should change them to dry one as soon as possible, as walking with wet socks can cause blusters. You should have bandages and moleskins to cover blisters.
It is good idea to sleep at a lower level than the highest point climbed during the day.

At high altitudes the sun is much stronger than normal, so you should have good sunglasses and a strong sunscreen. It is important to have mountaineering sunglasses or at least to put card board on the sides of the glasses to kill the sun’s glare. Also you should make sure your porters have proper sunglasses.

Before setting out it is good idea to contact you embassy and inform them where you are going trekking.

As there is often not is often not good medical treatment along a trek, it is important to be in good health being beginning. The Himalyan Rescue Association (HRA) in Thamel is a good source of health information while trekking.

WARNING! You should assume that all water should be treated. Just because your porter or locals swear that the water they are drinking is good for you to also drink, definitely does not mean it is drinkable for you. Unless you have much experience with drinking water in Nepal or India, do not even think about drinking without drinking it.

WARNING! Trekking can be quite strenuous, so when choosing a trek, you should make sure you are physically fit to do the one you are choosing. The Everest trek can be especially difficult for some people. I read an article in which a number of people on a trek could not complete the trek and had to be air lifted out. If you are booking a trek overseas, ask to talk to some people your same age, who have already done the trek that you plan to go on.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides