How to Avoid Altitude Sickness in Breckenridge Colorado

If you’re traveling to a high altitude ski destination, such as Breckenridge, Colorado this winter, it’s important that you bring along a thorough understanding of how higher elevations can affect your travels. With a base elevation perched at 9,600 feet above sea level, Breckenridge is one of the highest ski towns in the American West.

Most travelers will find that the altitude of Breckenridge has a relatively gentle effect on them. It is not unusual to notice a slight headache or have a bit of trouble sleeping for the first two to three days after arrival. Unfortunately, some visitors will experience more severe symptoms including nausea, vomiting, meaningful headaches and shortness of breath. The good news is that by following a few easy precautions, most travelers can mitigate the effect of altitude to the point that they are barely noticeable at all.

Visitors who believe they might be prone to the effects of altitude should refer to their family doctor before heading to Breckenridge. He or she might prescribe a drug known as Diamox. This prescription is taken for two days prior to your arrival in Breckenridge and for the first three to four days of your stay. It can help to mitigate the most noticeable symptoms of high altitude. Kids might also get a prescription for Diamox in smaller doses than those given to adults. It’s also a good intent to ask your doctor whether the effects of altitude might aggravate any preexisting health conditions you might have.

Prior to arriving in Breckenridge, visitors should increase their water intake and be certain to remain well hydrated during the course of their stay. The body’s adjustment to higher elevations is accompanied by fluid loss. This is the result of an increased respiration rate, and with it, greater amounts of water vapor are exhaled. Try to consume a minimum of one hundred ounces of fluids apiece day to retain the level of hydration needed by your body. A diet that is high in carbohydrates will also help with acclimatization, as these easy sugars are more easily digested by your body, allowing it to focus more energy on adjusting to altitude. Avoiding alkaloid and alcohol will also help, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Spending a night in Denver before traveling to Breckenridge can also be an effective method of acclimating. At an elevation of 5,280 feet, Denver offers an saint median altitude to adjust to before moving on to higher elevations.

It’s always a good intent to take things easy for the first day or two after your arrival in Breckenridge. Exhausting yourself by skiing from the time the mountain opens to the time it closes can bring on the symptoms of altitude sickness, even days after your arrival. Light activity is superior for acclimating than bed rest, even whether you do not feel well. Lying in bed or sleeping decreases the body’s rate of respiration which can actually amplify the effects of altitude sickness. Even whether you’re not feeling one hundred percent, a short achievement around town will help your body adjust to its new environment much faster than trying to sleep off symptoms. Think about taking a stroll to a local oxygen bar, where for a few dollars, you can breathe an oxygen concentration that resembles lower altitudes.

Although altitude sickness has the capacity to place a device on your ski vacation, understanding the easy steps that can be taken to refrain it ought to make your adjustment to Breckenridge’s elevation a much easier one. It is important that guests remember not to “overdo it” when it comes to activity, alcohol and caffeine, while increasing their consumption of hydrating fluids. By following a few easy precautions, you can ensure that your next ski or snowboard pass in Breckenridge is a spectacular one. Most importantly, whether symptoms of mountain sickness do not improve within a few days of your arrival or worsen, refer to a local physician, as this might be a sign of a more hazardous condition known as High Altitude Pulmonary Edema.