Elevation difference?!
Question: Elevation difference!?
I live in Texas and about a year ago I spent like 5 days in New Mexico!. I had really bad elevation sickness, my stomach was hurting, I was dizzy, I got tired really easy, and I didn't feel like doing much!. It was a year ago I went there and in about another 5 or so days I'm leaving and going there again!. Is there anyway to help from this!? I don't have asthma or any other health problems but I really don't want to spoil the fun and stay in all day like last time!. Theres alot of hiking and stuff we have to do so I'm not sure how that's going to go!. There is a MAJOR elevation difference from here to New Mexico!. On the way our ears popped and it was hard to breathe!. I'm bringing water and an inhaler!. Anyone had any problems like this before!?
sorry this is so long!.
but thanks much for any help :]Www@Answer-Health@Com
sorry this is so long!.
but thanks much for any help :]Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The low amount of oxygen in the air at high altitudes causes high-altitude illness!. The amount of oxygen in the air goes down as you climb higher above sea level and becomes very low at altitudes above 8,000 feet!. If you travel to a high altitude, you may feel ill because the air has less oxygen in it!. If you stay at a high altitude for a long time, your body gets used to the low oxygen level, and you don't get sick from it!.
You can do two important things to prevent high-altitude illness: (1) take your time traveling to higher altitudes and (2) sleep at an altitude that is lower than the altitude you were in during the day!. For example, if you ski at an elevation of 10,000 feet during the day, sleep the night before and the night after at an elevation of 8,500 feet!.
When you travel to a high altitude, your body will begin adjusting right away to the amount of oxygen in the air, but it takes several days for your body to adjust completely!. If you're healthy, you can probably go safely from sea level to an altitude of 8,000 feet in a few days!. But when you reach an altitude above 8,000 feet, don't go up faster than 1,000 feet per day!. The closer you live to sea level, the more time your body will need to get used to a high altitude!. Plan your trip so your body has time to get used to the high altitude before you start your physical activity!.
The best treatment for high-altitude illnesses is to go down to a lower altitude right away!. But if you have only mild symptoms, you may be able to stay at that altitude and let your body adjust!. If you do this, don't exercise at all, just rest until you feel better!.
If you have severe symptoms, go down 1,500 to 2,000 feet right away to see if your symptoms get better!. Keep going down until your symptoms go away completely!.
A medicine called acetazolamide (brand name: Diamox) can be used to treat high-altitude illness!. When you talk with your doctor about your upcoming trip, ask about getting a prescription for this medicine to take with you in case you get mountain sickness!. If you start to have symptoms of high-altitude illness, you can take 125 to 250 mg of the medicine by mouth twice a day!.
Don't ignore signs of high-altitude illnesss!. People can die of high-altitude illness if they don't recognize the signs or if they don't believe their illness is caused by the high altitude!. When you have signs of high-altitude illness, don't go to a higher altitude until you feel better and your symptoms have completely gone away!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You can do two important things to prevent high-altitude illness: (1) take your time traveling to higher altitudes and (2) sleep at an altitude that is lower than the altitude you were in during the day!. For example, if you ski at an elevation of 10,000 feet during the day, sleep the night before and the night after at an elevation of 8,500 feet!.
When you travel to a high altitude, your body will begin adjusting right away to the amount of oxygen in the air, but it takes several days for your body to adjust completely!. If you're healthy, you can probably go safely from sea level to an altitude of 8,000 feet in a few days!. But when you reach an altitude above 8,000 feet, don't go up faster than 1,000 feet per day!. The closer you live to sea level, the more time your body will need to get used to a high altitude!. Plan your trip so your body has time to get used to the high altitude before you start your physical activity!.
The best treatment for high-altitude illnesses is to go down to a lower altitude right away!. But if you have only mild symptoms, you may be able to stay at that altitude and let your body adjust!. If you do this, don't exercise at all, just rest until you feel better!.
If you have severe symptoms, go down 1,500 to 2,000 feet right away to see if your symptoms get better!. Keep going down until your symptoms go away completely!.
A medicine called acetazolamide (brand name: Diamox) can be used to treat high-altitude illness!. When you talk with your doctor about your upcoming trip, ask about getting a prescription for this medicine to take with you in case you get mountain sickness!. If you start to have symptoms of high-altitude illness, you can take 125 to 250 mg of the medicine by mouth twice a day!.
Don't ignore signs of high-altitude illnesss!. People can die of high-altitude illness if they don't recognize the signs or if they don't believe their illness is caused by the high altitude!. When you have signs of high-altitude illness, don't go to a higher altitude until you feel better and your symptoms have completely gone away!.Www@Answer-Health@Com