Altitude sickness in Cusco-Peru
The altitude sickness is basically caused by the lack of oxygen. It happens to the people who are not acclimated and who get above 2000 meters in less than 1 or 2 days. Those who get to Cusco by plane are the more prone to mountain or altitude sickness. Symptoms usually occur during the first 48 hours with headaches, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, shortness of breath, sleeping disturbances, palpitations and lack of concentration to acute pulmonary edema.
This usually occurs after 6 to 10 hours of exposure to hypoxia and happens more frequently to persons under fifty years old and individuals who reside beneath 900 m of altitude.

Symptoms:

• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Physical exhaustion
• Sleeping disturbances

The most serious (and potentially lethal) consequences of acute mountain sickness are the Altitude Pulmonary Edema and Cerebral Edema of Altitude.

Preventing the altitude sickness / Acclimatation 

• Spend at least one night between 2500 and 3000 meter of altitude.
• Once above 3500 meters, you should climb slowly without doing any intense efforts.. 
• It is very important that you rest during the first day and that you stay perfectly hydrated (Drink at least 4 to 5 liters of water daily) and a varied diet rich in carbohydrates.

When you travel to Cusco, Puno, Arequipa or any other city from the preruvian mountain range, you should keep in mind the following instructions:    

• Arriving by plane in a high altitude zone, you should avoid heavy or abundant meals, soft drinks, coffee or cigarettes

• You should also bring coramine and glocuse tablets which you can get without medical prescription in any pharmacy.
• You should drink 2 to 3 liters of natural wáter and coca tea to keep an adequate hydratation. Se debe tomar a diario de 2 a 3 litros de agua natural y mates de hierbas, para mantener una hidratación adecuada.
• It is important to keep a light and high energy diet rich in carbohydrates, without fat, in small quantities and several times a day. Avoid eating unknown food to which the body is not accustomed.   
• After your arrival in high altitude zone, it is recommended to rest and sleep as much as you can. It is also recommended to drink a highly concentrated coca tea with a couple of drops of lemon juice.

Treatment

• Drink a lot of liquids
• Coca tea or coca candies
• Paracetamol is an ideal medecine for headaches and the coramine reduces the nausea. Acetazolamide )250 mg, 4 times a day, orally, maximum dose: 1000 mg / day) is very effective in combating the desease and to accelerate the acclimatization.
• If you are feeling really bad, it is better to see a doctor and to see the restrictions.  Do not wait until you feel really bad before asking  for oxygen, it can be found at some hotels, pharmacies and hospitals, In doing so, ask for oxygen at a flow rate of 2/3 l/min.
  
  

Arriving in Cusco
It is very important that you walk slowly and do not make great physical efforts. Remember that the altitude here is 3 400 meters. The best is to rest a couple of hours. If you feel that you are lacking oxygen, you can ask for it at the airport too.