High Altitude Health Tips by Alpine Mobile Physicians

The mountains of Colorado are among the most beautiful parts of the United States. However, some of the very features that make this area so attractive also present a specific set of challenges to non-acclimated visitors. The most important thing you can do is to understand these challenges, their symptoms, and what you can do to circumvent them.

Altitude Illness

Quick Tips To Help Avoid Significant Problems From Altitude Illness

- Increase Fluid Intake

- Decrease Salt Intake

- Moderate Your Physical Activity

- Eat High Carbohydrate, Low Fat Meals

- Reduce Alcohol and Caffeine Intake

- Feeling Worse? Seek Help

As you ascend to higher altitudes, atmospheric pressure decreases, the air is thinner and less oxygen is available. It is also colder, drier and the ultraviolet rays from the sun are stronger. Above 8000 feet, altitude illness affects 20 to 30% of visitors from low altitude to some degree. The extent to which visitors are affected depends on how quickly they ascend, what elevation they attain, how hard they exercise, as well as factors in their own body composition that are out of their control.

After arriving at high altitude, people often notice that their breathing is faster and/or deeper, and they may feel short of breath especially when exercising.  In addition, the heart is likely to beat faster at higher altitudes. This is the body’s first and most effective response to higher elevation. Nearly everyone experiences this. These are normal physiologic responses to altitude and do not represent altitude illness.

Altitude Illness

On the other hand, there are specific symptoms that affect approximately one fourth of all travelers to altitude and constitute altitude illness, also called Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).  While most people getting altitude illness begin to have symptoms in their first few hours at altitude above 6500 feet, it can strike anytime up to 4 days after arrival.  Formally, the big three symptoms are headache, nausea and or vomiting, and inability to sleep.  Many also experience dizziness and shortness of breath, though low oxygen level is often NOT present.

Approximately 10% of people with altitude illness may go on to develop High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE).  In this circumstance, the person will have a wet cough, significant shortness of breath, and are experiencing fluid in their lungs.  This is an important medical condition that requires immediate medical assistance.

High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is another altitude illness that is extremely rare at the Altitude of the Vail Valley.  Victims will become confused and disoriented and require rapid medical attention as well.

Who is affected by Altitude Illness?

Altitude Illness can affect anyone.  It is an equal opportunity illness.  The most conditioned athlete and those not well trained are affected equally.  Both the old and young can get it, with perhaps a suggestion that the elderly are slightly less likely to experience AMS.

Is there anything I can do to prevent it?

There are some strategies that have been shown to work, though none with 100% efficacy.  Five days before leaving home, taking the herbal remedy ghinko biloba has been shown to reduce the incidence of and the symptoms of altitude illness.  The prescription drug Diamox, begun one day before departure to altitude and continued two days after arrival, is clearly of benefit as a preventative measure.  While most textbooks, and therefore many doctors, recommend a higher dose, doctors with experience at altitude treatment have learned that one half the usual dose is just as effective with fewer side effects.  There are clearly side effects, even at the lower dose.  As a diuretic, it may contribute to the dehydration that is inherent to our dry climate.  Many will experience hyperventilation as an unpleasant feeling and numb fingers and lips are common.

On the way to altitude, an overnight stay for a day or two at mild elevation may reduce incidence and symptoms of AMS.  Often travelers to Vail choose to spend a night in Denver prior to ascent.  Though not often directly applicable to most travelers, mountain climbers are taught not to ascend more than 1000 feet of sleep altitude (the at which they sleep) per day.

After arriving at altitude there are still things that can be done.  Often mentioned is drinking lots of water.  While this continues to be an important facet of travel to the mountains, no study has actually shown a reduced incidence of AMS though hydration alone.  However, it IS important and difficult to maintain hydration at altitude.  This can be especially important if you subsequently develop altitude illness.

High carbohydrate diets have been discussed and are probably of benefit.

Taking it easy on your first day, though tough for most people on vacation, it is an excellent and important part of a successful high altitude vacation plan.  In addition, there is no doubt that drinking alcohol on your first night at altitude has been noticed to make altitude illness symptoms more likely to develop and to be more severe.

With regard to treatment, overnight Oxygen is the treatment of choice.  While small bottles of Oxygen purchased locally may temporarily relieve symptoms, only overnight Oxygen usually produces a cure.  Oxygen in supplies sufficient to give overnight therapy is a prescription drug.  It should not be administered unless the patient has been seen by a physician and monitored for response.

Shown to be of equal effect, hyperbaric oxygen can also be used to treat altitude illness.  It requires specialized equipment, is expensive, and demands the ill patient climb into a small space.  It is like an enclosed sleeping bag, which is on the floor, and in which the patient must remain for at least one hour.  One hour of this therapy can be equal to the effect of sleeping overnight on oxygen.

What is important is to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment immediately.  Many a traveler has been known to continue to feel unwell for days.  With treatment, the symptoms may often resolve in minutes and the person can be successfully cured overnight.  So instead of being ill, visitors can quickly resume making the most of their time enjoying the Vail Valley.