Elevation – It’s always been a love/hate relationship with me. While it provides us with beautiful mountains and snowfall, it also causes us to feel out of shape, ill, and at times discouraged. The most amazing mountains in Colorado are perched 8,000 feet above sea level, which means that the air is “thinner” and your body can’t get as much oxygen as it would at lower elevations. This decrease in air pressure also means that water vapor from your lungs is lost at a much faster rate. These factors combined can easily lead to altitude sickness; a nasty combination of nausea, headaches, insomnia and shortness of breath with the potential to ruin your Ski Vacation.
Take action to prevent high-altitude illness.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The best thing you can do for your body is drink three times as much water as you normally would.
- Acclimate. Your body adjusts gradually to changes in elevation over several days. We suggest spending a night in Denver (5280 ft) to allow your body to start adjusting. Folks that live at sea-level might need more time to make the transition.
- Eat carbohydrate-rich foods. Carbohydrates help your body transport oxygen through your bloodstream, so limiting your fat and salt intake only helps this process!
What to do if you get altitude sickness?
The best way to treat altitude sickness is to simply go down to a lower altitude. If symptoms are severe enough, descend as much as 1,500 to 2,000 feet lower. Ask your doctor about acetazolamide, which will help transport oxygen more efficiently through your body. Or opt for the more natural route and use lemon soda and ginger, and ginkgo biloba, to help ease the symptoms.
Types of High-altitude sickness:
1) Acute Mountain Sickness
2) High-altitude pulmonary edema (also called HAPE), affects the lungs.
3) High-altitude cerebral edema (also called HACE), affects the brain.
Do yourself a favor, prepare your body for your next ski vacation and avoid falling victim to altitude sickness. To your health!
9 Responses to “Altitude Sickness – Don’t Let it Ruin your Vacation.”
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The sickness is worth the sickness…. get it!?!
How about some oxygen bars?
I drink lots of water to avoid the altitude headaches
also watch your alcohol intake. drinking at altitude hits you harder and faster! drink h2O while drinking and save yourself the headache
I remember my first week moving up here. I came from the beach, so almost 2 miles up made me so tired that I went to bed at 6 every evening. It took awhile to get used to. I would say, for all those who come for the week, hydrate! You don’t want your vacation to be messed up because of not hydrating!
Great advice, thanks Cali!
Great advice! You sound like a Doctor there is some competition.
Great insight guys!
Follow this advice!!! It will make your vacation 10000x better!! Getting sick on vacation = no bueno!