Altitude Sickness In Albuquerque: Must-Read Guide & 7 Tips To Avoid
If you're planning to visit Albuquerque NM, altitude sickness can be more common than many visitors think. In this complete guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the altitude of Albuquerque and how to avoid Albuquerque altitude sickness.
Albuquerque Altitude
The altitude of Albuquerque New Mexico is 5,312 feet above sea level. Sitting in the high desert, Albuquerque rises higher than most major cities in America.
- Albuquerque altitude - 5,312 ft (1,619 m)
Albuquerque, New Mexico is a popular destination for visitors due to its unique blend of culture, its rich history, and stunning natural scenery. The area around Albuquerque is ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and skiing, with nearby attractions such as the Sandia Mountains, Rio Grande River, and the Petroglyph National Monument.
Although Albuquerque is slightly lower in elevation than Santa Fe and Taos, it is the states largest city giving the most high-altitude exposure to visitors.
- Sandia Mountains altitude - 10,678 ft (3,255 m)
- Petroglyph National Monument altitude - 5,600 ft (1,707 m)
- Taos altitude - 6,969 feet (2,124 m)
- Santa Fe altitude - 7,199 ft (2,194 m)
These high altitudes of Albuquerque and nearby areas are definitely a concern for visitors.
Is Albuquerque Considered High Altitude?
Whether you're wondering if Albuquerque is considered high Altitude or if New Mexico is considered high altitude, yes they are.
At 5,312 feet high, Albuquerque meets high altitude criteria Mountain Medicine that indicates a minimum of 4,900 feet.⁶
As the 4th highest state in America, New Mexico is considered high altitude as well at a mean elevation of 5,700 feet.⁷
Can You Get Altitude Sickness In Albuquerque?
Yes, you can get altitude sickness in Albuquerque.
Altitude sickness is said to start around 5,000 feet above sea level. In Albuquerque at 5,312 feet, you're at risk for the mountain illness.⁸ In fact, since the state's average altitude is even higher than Albuquerque, altitude sickness is a threat in most of New Mexico.
Is Albuquerque Higher Elevation Than Denver?
When comparing Albuquerque altitude vs Denver, Albuquerque is higher in elevation.
- Altitude of Albuquerque NM - 5,312 feet
- Altitude of Denver CO - 5,280 feet
Albuquerque is 5,312 feet high, while Denver is slightly slower at 5,280 feet high. It is estimated that about 10% of visitors to Denver get altitude sickness, which means that amount or more are at risk in Albuquerque.⁹
7 Tips To Avoid Albuquerque Altitude Sickness
If you're planning on visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico, or any other city in the state, you'll want to take some precautions before you arrive.
Being company based in Colorado at high altitudes, we have years of experience and will share with you our top researched tips.
Here's 7 Tips To Avoid Albuquerque Altitude Sickness:
1. Stay hydrated
It's easy to become dehydrated in the high altitude because of the dry air and increased respiration. According to the Wilderness Medical Society, you can lose water twice as fast than normal at high elevations.¹⁰
To stay hydrated, drink plenty of water. Most recommend drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day.
TIP: To maximize your hydration, add sea salt (electrolytes) to your water or food, and use Zaca
hydration chewable tablets to increase water absorption.
2. Take It Easy
Do not overexert yourself when you first arrive Albuquerque. Altitude sickness can make you feel fatigued, and it's easy to overdo it when you're not accustomed to the elevation.
Take it easy and limit doing any strenuous exercise or mountain exploring. After a few days, you should feel better and be able to exercise normally again.
3. Limit Alcohol
Alcohol is known to cause dehydration, lessen sleep quality, and even lower oxygen saturation.¹¹ This is can lead to headaches and fatigue.
4. Gradually Adjust
If you're heading off to the mountains — such as camping, skiing, or exploring — make sure to acclimate in Albuquerque beforehand. Ascending in altitude too fast can increase the chances of altitude sickness.
At 5,312 feet, Albuquerque is a great place to allow your body adjust before heading to higher altitudes. Spend a few nights before heading to your next destination.
5. Get Plenty Of Rest
Sleep is vital to the recovery of your body, and even increases blood flow and oxygen.¹² Make sure to get enough sleep, 7-9 hours, before and during your trip.
Remember, high altitudes can negatively effect sleep and even cause insomnia. One tip is to make sure to get plenty of natural sunlight during the day, and complete darkness when you sleep at night, which can help your body's circadian rhythms.
6. Supplement Antioxidants
High altitude is proven to cause oxidative stress in the body.¹³ One way the body combats that damage is through antioxidants.¹⁴
A study from India showed glutathione to deplete up to 45% from high altitudes, which is considered your body's master antioxidant.¹⁵ By supplementing antioxidants, you can help to naturally increase your levels and protect against oxidative stress.
7. Consider Altitude Medication
Seek professional medical recommendations, as there's medicine both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription based for altitude sickness such as Diamox.
In summary, these are our top tips to avoid Albuquerque altitude sickness — that includes staying hydrated, taking it easy, limiting alcohol, gradually adjusting, getting plenty of rest, supplementing antioxidants, and considering altitude medication.
Highly Rated Altitude Supplement
Zaca chewables are a natural supplement to help you rehydrate, replenish, and recover. Containing herbs and antioxidants such as glutathione, you can fuel your body and performance. Whether hiking, skiing or traveling — Zaca has become a favorite supplement to feel better faster. Made in on-the-go packets, take 2-4 chewables per day or as needed.
Try Zaca chewable tablets today and enhance your travel experience.
SOURCES:
1. Albuquerque New Mexico Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque,_New_Mexico
2. Petroglyphs National Monument Elevation
https://www.summitpost.org/petroglyphs-national-monument/463614
3. Sandia Mountains Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandia_Mountains
4. Taos New Mexico Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taos,_New_Mexico
5. Santa Fe New Mexico Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe,_New_Mexico
6. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
7. 50 State Elevations (mean elevation)
https://www.netstate.com/states/tables/state_elevation_mean.htm
8. Patient education: High-altitude illness (including mountain sickness)
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics
9. Don’t let altitude sickness ruin your trip to Colorado
https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/23/altitude-sickness-tips-colorado/
10. Why Do You Need to Drink a Lot of Water at a High Altitude?
https://www.livestrong.com/article/360485-how-to-train-for-high-altitude-hiking/
11. Effects of Alcohol
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.HYP.29.6.1278#
12. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
13. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
14. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
15. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
