WHAT IS ALTITUDE SICKNESS?

With an elevation of 5,280 feet, Denver has received the well-known nickname as the mile-high city. Surrounding Denver are mountain peaks, many of which exceed 10,000 feet. The considerable elevation changes can cause the symptoms to develop of a medical condition called altitude sickness. We educate the residents of our senior living center in Denver about what altitude sickness is, as well as the steps taken to treat and prevent it from causing disruptions in their daily lives.

Altitude sickness develops when the body does not have enough time to adjust to the lower oxygen levels present in thinner air. It mostly impacts individuals who move to a higher altitude too quickly, without giving the body the time to adapt to lower oxygen levels. For example, altitude sickness can develop when a hiker starts at an elevation of 5,280 feet and rapidly ascends a mountain to reach a peak located at more than 10,000 feet.

What Are the Symptoms of Mountain Sickness?

It is crucial to detect the symptoms of altitude sickness to prevent the medical condition from developing into a dangerous health care issue. The symptoms of altitude sickness typically appear within the first 24 hours of your body reaching a significantly high altitude. You can feel a dull headache before it quickly turns into one that produces migraine-like symptoms. Many victims of altitude sickness start to feel nauseous and lose their appetites. Altitude sickness also can trigger intense fatigue, especially when you rest after a long time hiking on one of the trails near our assisted living facility in Denver.

What Are the Treatments for Altitude Sickness?

You have several ways to treat altitude sickness, as well as manage the symptoms of the medical condition. The most effective treatment strategy is to descend to a lower altitude. However, this strategy is impractical if you start to develop altitude sickness symptoms at Denver’s elevation. In this case, stop any physical activity and rest for several minutes at the first signs of altitude sickness. Inhaling supplemental oxygen is an effective way to mitigate the symptoms of altitude sickness immediately. You also might benefit from a procedure called hyperbaric therapy, which involves the deployment of portable hyperbaric bags.

How fast you recover depends on the severity of the symptoms and the type of treatment that you receive.

How Do I Prevent Altitude Sickness?

You can implement several measures to prevent the development of altitude sickness symptoms. Limit how fast you gain elevation, whether you plan to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park or take a day trip from Denver through the mountain ranges that define Colorado’s landscape. For hikers who are vulnerable to altitude sickness, take a day off from hiking every few days to give the body time to recover. Sleeping at a lower altitude can help to alleviate the symptoms of the medical condition. Inhibitors such as sildenafil and tadalafil do a good job of preventing the development of altitude sickness symptoms.

Your Health Matters to Us

One of the many benefits of moving to one of the retirement communities in Denver, Colorado concerns quick access to the highest-rated healthcare services. At MorningStar at Observatory Park, our assisted living facility in Denver believes promoting a healthy lifestyle starts with education. This is why we stress the importance of our residents to recognize the signs of altitude sickness, as well as knowing how to treat and prevent the medical condition.

Learn more about our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles by scheduling a tour today.