Contrary to popular belief, the risk of altitude sickness isn't confined solely to the highest peaks. As a Colorado company with years of high altitude experience, we’ll answer can you get altitude sickness at 5,000 feet, along with the top steps for avoiding altitude sickness.
Yes, you can get altitude sickness at 5,000 feet.
In Denver at 5,280 feet high, visitors often struggle with the elevation including symptoms like headaches and nausea.
Travel Medicine Consultants states that altitude sickness actually starts at 4,000 feet,¹ which puts 5,000 feet well into the range of risk.
Along with our home city of Denver Colorado, many places are at 5,000 feet high.
Places At 5,000 Feet Elevation:
These cities all have high altitudes in common, and preparation should be taken when you visit!
Minor symptoms of altitude sickness at 5,000 feet can be pretty common.
Dr. Ben Honigman of CU says 8% to 10% of Denver visitors get altitude sickness, which sits at 5,280 feet.² Based on experience we think the data is underestimating, as many people are fatigued, get headaches, and have trouble breathing when arriving in Denver, especially coming from sea level.
The main cause of altitude sickness at 5,000 feet is the lower oxygen levels. The higher you go the less oxygen is in the air, leading to physiological stress on the body.
Issues like oxidative stress, dehydration and other stresses on the body result in symptoms such as headaches and extreme fatigue.
Symptoms of altitude sickness at 5,000 feet:
Be on the lookout for these types of altitude sickness symptoms when you’re at 5,000 feet or higher. They usually show up within 6-24 upon arrival. Taking proper precautions is necessary to lessen your risk.
While acclimation can vary based on each person and the height of elevation, sources on average say it takes 1-5 days to adjust.³
In this range of time is when you’re at the highest risk of altitude sickness as your body is working to acclimate.
Yes, 5,000 feet is considered high altitude.
High altitude starts at 4,900 feet according to Mountain Medicine.⁴ This puts the elevation of 5,000 feet at the beginnings of high elevations.
There’s 17.3% effective oxygen found at 5,000 feet.⁵
At this elevation, it is about 17% to 18% lower oxygen levels than at sea level.
Altitude sickness can cast a shadow on your adventures, even at 5000 feet.
As a Colorado company based at 5,280 feet high, we have vast experience with these altitudes. We’ll share with you the best steps we’ve found to be effective for visitors.
Here’s 5 Steps To Avoid Altitude Sickness At 5000 Feet:
Taking these five steps can significantly enhance your ability to enjoy your time at 5,000 feet without succumbing to the worst of outcomes. Altitude sickness at 5,000 feet is no fun, make sure to take it easy, take breaks, prioritize hydration, get plenty of sleep, avoid alcohol, and boost antioxidants.
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SOURCES:
1. High Altitude Illness
https://www.travelsurenyc.com/high-altitude-illness/
2. Don’t let altitude sickness ruin your trip to Colorado
https://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/23/altitude-sickness-tips-colorado/
3. How Long Does It Take To Acclimate To Elevation: Plus 7 Tips
https://zacalife.com/blogs/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-acclimate-to-elevation
4. Effects of high altitude on humans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
5. Oxygen Levels At Altitude
https://wildsafe.org/resources/ask-the-experts/altitude-safety-101/oxygen-levels/
6. 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
7. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
8. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
9. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
10. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
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