The higher you go in elevation, the less oxygen there is to breathe. When the body struggles to adjust to this lack of oxygen, you may start to experience altitude sickness, also called high-altitude illness or mountain sickness.
Symptoms of altitude sickness are relatively mild and usually go away on their own. If you notice that your altitude sickness isn’t resolving itself on its own, try to get to a lower elevation as soon as possible. If necessary, make sure you visit a healthcare provider for additional treatment.
References
Luks, A. M., et al. (2017). Acute high-altitude sickness. European Respiratory Review: An Official Journal of the European Respiratory Society.
McGowan, J., et al. (2025). Acute mountain sickness. StatPearls.
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Written by:
Sophia KellerSophia Keller was an editorial intern on the GoodRx Health team. She has a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Arizona State University.
Reviewed by:
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAPKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.
