The
relative humidity at high altitude is extraordinarily low, and almost
invariably irritates the respiratory tract. The result is the infamous
“Khumbu cough”, which can be serious enough to cause a person to cough
hard enough to break a rib.
The best way to prevent it is to wear a mask that heats and moisturizes
the air you breathe. A balaclava worn especially at night may be
helpful. Many climbers use masks that can be found in cross-country ski
stores. These masks have a metallic net inserted in a lightweight
plastic or cloth shell and were originally developed for the Finnish
Olympic ski team.
The
relative humidity at high altitude is extraordinarily low, and almost
invariably irritates the respiratory tract. The result is the infamous
“Khumbu cough”, which can be serious enough to cause a person to cough
hard enough to break a rib.