It’s the perfectly planned trip to Colorado, including skiing in the mountains and tours of local breweries. But then a headache creeps in, nausea ruins the beer and it’s impossible to sleep. That’s the curse of altitude sickness.
Dr. Ben Honigman, professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said 25 to 30 percent of visitors heading to the mountains get acute mountain sickness. The risk is lower for trips to Denver, where only 8 to 10 percent visitors get the ailment.
But don’t let a little thing like altitude sickness get in the way of Colorado’s beautiful scenery, excellent slopes and delightful beer.
Honigman shared his knowledge on when people are likely to get altitude sickness and tips for how to avoid it:
Symptoms of altitude sickness
Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue and trouble sleeping due to a lack of available oxygen. Typically ibuprofen, Tylenol or aspirin can help with headaches. Honigman said it takes about 24 to 36 hours to acclimate.
People with persistent headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting and continued lack of sleep by the second night should seek medical attention.
Being short of breath while sitting during the second or third day may be a sign of high altitude pulmonary edema, where water is in the lungs. This is rare, though, affecting only 1 or 2 percent of people going to the mountains. Honigman said it’s highly preventable if someone seeks help immediately.
Who gets altitude sickness
Altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, physical fitness or previous experience with altitude. Even someone who lives in Denver can get sick when traveling to the mountains. Physically fit people are more likely to exert themselves, though, leading to increased chances of altitude sickness.
Ways to curb altitude sickness
The Altitude Research Center at CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus recommends avoiding alcohol and salty foods. Instead, Honigman advised people to drink moderately more water than usual. This also helps visitors adjust to Colorado’s dry climate. He recommended taking a day to acclimate at a lower elevation and rest before hitting the slopes.
How high?
Altitude sickness typically kicks in at elevations around 7,500 to 8,000 feet. In Colorado, areas with this altitude include Idaho Springs and almost all ski counties.
“The issue for most people is not that they go up and have a ski day,” Honigman said. “The issue for most people is they end up sleeping at an 8,000 to 10,000 (feet) range.”
When people sleep, their breathing patterns are much slower, which lets in even less oxygen exacerbating the altitude’s effect, Honigman said.
Good idea or bad idea? Jumping from sea level to the top of Mount Elbert, the tallest mountain in Colorado
Bad idea. The Altitude Research Center suggests starting by taking a day at a modest altitude that’s between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, such as Denver. Honigman said people who stay a night in Denver reduce their chances of getting altitude sickness by anywhere from 25 to 50 percent. Spend two nights in Denver and chances are good travelers will not experience altitude sickness.
Medicines or herbs that can help
Worried visitors can visit a doctor before travel for a prescription for Diamox, which can reduce a person’s chances for altitude sickness by about 80 to 90 percent, Honigman said. Some studies also suggest that Gingko Biloba can help decrease symptoms, according to the center.
Scientific nitpicking
There’s not actually less oxygen at high elevation, Honigman said. Regardless of the altitude, there is always 21 percent oxygen in the air. The real difference is the amount of pressure pushing the oxygen into a person’s lungs.
UPDATE 9/9/2017: This story has been updated to reflect that people should not drink excessive amounts of water.
