Altitude Acclimatization Guide

Rapid ascent of low altitude residents to altitudes above 6,000 ft (1,600 m) increases individual susceptibility to altitude illness and decreases physical and cognitive work performance. Altitude acclimatization allows Soldiers to decrease their susceptibility to altitude illness and optimize physical and cognitive performances for the altitude to which they are acclimatized. Altitude acclimatization consists of physiological adaptations that develop in a time-dependent manner during continuous or repeated intermittent exposure to hypoxia. The purpose of this guide is to provide the user with quantitative estimations of the health and performance decrements as a function of altitude, the degree of improvements in health and performance resulting from altitude acclimatization, and several methods for inducing altitude acclimatization.