I used to go to CME meetings at Copper in CO. About once a year someone from the lowlands or the coast would fly in, get all they’re ski stuff on and hit the slopes hard for the afternoon. They’d get a headache, feel “fluish”, go to their room go to sleep and not wake up again. So they came from very low elevation to 8-10,000 feet and exerted hard all in a matter of 4-6 hours.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in phenomenal physical condition and you can develop HAPE or HACE ( high altitude pulmonary edema or cerebral edema, both of which are very serious and requiring in the field to get to lower elevations ASAP.
Most cases are milder with a headache, treating with aspirin and plenty of fluids is the answer along with decreasing exertion for awhile.
Diamox is a type diuretic and has been used successfully for this syndrome but some people get quite severe bothersome tingling in their hands and fingers over a weeks time plus it depletes fluid in the macula of your eye with visual Disturbances up to a week or so after discontinuing it.
Best approach is to go up to altitude slowly even over days if time allows, drink plenty of water, take an aspirin a day and refrain from alcohol.
