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- Mar 4, 2010
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Thousands of climbers are risking their health by emulating celebrities who have scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, scientists are warning.
Top of the world: Office worker Julianne McGregor hula-hoops at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to cheer up a friend who has liver cancer (Picture: National)
People inspired by last years Comic Relief trek up Africas tallest peak know little or nothing about high altitude, they say.
The alert comes after a surge in bookings to ascend the Tanzanian mountain following the charity trip involving Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles and Alesha Dixon among others.
Scientists tested 200 climbers on the 5,895m (19,340ft) peak and found nearly half suffered altitude sickness before reaching the summit.
Most were ascending too quickly to allow drugs that can ease the condition to work. Many climbers knew little or nothing about altitude sickness, said Stewart Jackson, an Edinburgh University academic who carried out the study.
An acclimatisation trek before attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro offers climbers the best chance of a safe, successful summit.
Climbers also risk the rare but fatal conditions of high-altitude cerebral oedema and high-altitude pulmonary oedema during their ascent.
Source: Metro
Top of the world: Office worker Julianne McGregor hula-hoops at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to cheer up a friend who has liver cancer (Picture: National)
People inspired by last years Comic Relief trek up Africas tallest peak know little or nothing about high altitude, they say.
The alert comes after a surge in bookings to ascend the Tanzanian mountain following the charity trip involving Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles and Alesha Dixon among others.
Scientists tested 200 climbers on the 5,895m (19,340ft) peak and found nearly half suffered altitude sickness before reaching the summit.
Most were ascending too quickly to allow drugs that can ease the condition to work. Many climbers knew little or nothing about altitude sickness, said Stewart Jackson, an Edinburgh University academic who carried out the study.
An acclimatisation trek before attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro offers climbers the best chance of a safe, successful summit.
Climbers also risk the rare but fatal conditions of high-altitude cerebral oedema and high-altitude pulmonary oedema during their ascent.
Source: Metro
