Over time, most people adapt to the lack of oxygen at moderate altitudes and experience few prolonged adverse symptoms. Other individuals do not fare so well and display a variety of symptoms collectively known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). One important safety rule on the mountain concerns ascending slowly enough that altitude acclimation can occur. Schedule rest days on arrival at significantly high elevations. For moderate altitudes higher than 10,000 to 12,000 feet, it is inadvisable to ascend more than 1,000 feet per day if unacclimated.
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AMS is not necessarily life threatening and you can prevent it by slow ascents and/or ameliorate it by several well-known therapeutic agents. There are wide variations in an individual’s expression of symptoms. AMS may occur at moderate altitudes in some individuals or not until much higher altitudes in others.
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Acute mountain sickness is one of several illnesses that occur with altitude. The best therapy for AMS is descent. AMS is usually a short-term problem that you can eliminate by rest and acclimation.
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(Dougherty, Neil J. IV. Mountaineering Safety. Outdoor Recreation Safety. United States: The School and Community Safety Society of America, 1998.)
