Curious about Colorado Springs altitude sickness or the altitude of Colorado Springs? Are you planning a visit or thinking thinking about moving to the area? Wondering if that elevation is really as big a deal as everyone says it is? Whether you’re living in Colorado Springs, planning to visit, or vacationing here, we'll share everything you need to know in this complete guide for Colorado Springs altitude sickness.
Colorado Springs is known for its beautiful outdoor scenery and views. The city has many parks and trails to enjoy its natural beauty. There's many outdoor recreational activities and opportunities available year-round that attracts both visitors and movers alike. Hiking is a popular pastime with trails throughout the area. Climbers enjoy visiting Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak for climbing excursions during all seasons of the year. Shooting sports are popular with indoor and outdoor ranges available nearby. USA Olympic facilities are headquartered in Colorado Springs, as with the altitude it's a fertile training environment. These are just some of the many reasons for Colorado Springs popularity.
With our company Zaca based out of Colorado, we have first hand experience and information on the altitude effects. Colorado Springs altitude can be challenging to adjust to. Making a trip can leave you wishing you had just stayed home. If you plan to live or travel to Colorado Springs then you will want to know the effects of altitude on people. This comprehensive guide to Colorado Springs altitude answers all the important questions including how and why altitude affects people.
Altitude sickness occurs when you travel to a higher altitude too quickly. Altitude sickness (also known as acute mountain sickness, AMS or altitude illness) is a form of hypoxia, or oxygen deficiency. It occurs mostly intensively above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level, but can start to occur at altitudes over 3,000 feet.
Causes: Why do some people get altitude sickness while others don't? Essentially, it has to do with how your body reacts to the decreased oxygen levels at higher altitudes. Your body has a natural response to protect itself from low levels of oxygen by slowing down your heart rate and blood flow. This reaction makes it feel like you're working harder than you actually are while exercising.
Colorado Springs is at an altitude of 6,035 feet. Although more commonly altitude sickness develops most intense at 8,000 feet, at places like Breckenridge at 9,600 feet altitude and Vail at 8,150 feet altitude, it can start to occur at elevations as low as 3,000-6,000 feet. If you are not accustomed to the altitude and when changes in altitude overpower our ability to acclimatize, there's a high chance you will experience the symptoms of altitude sickness.
Colorado Springs is the highest city on the front range of Colorado. You may wonder is Denver Colorado altitude any different? Denver sits at 5,280 feet, hence the city was coined the nickname Mile High City. The potential altitude sickness will not vary much between Denver and Colorado Springs.
If you're preparing to climb a mountain like Pikes Peak, that is the most extreme altitude at 14,115 feet. Much more will need to be done to prepare at those heights, keep reading below to see how to avoid altitude sickness in Colorado.
The air is less dense at higher altitudes and for people who are not used to that, it can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Symptoms of altitude sickness will vary, but will usually develop between 6 and 24 hours.
The most common symptoms of high altitude are:
Shortness of breath
Trouble sleeping
Headaches or migraines
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Lightheadedness, or fainting
Fatigue
Short of breath
Confusion
Weakness
Loss of appetite
For some people with mild symptoms, these are a nuisance. For others, they are more severe and may keep them from doing what they would normally do at lower altitude. Some people don't get any symptoms until they have been at higher altitude for a while. Finally, there are people who have serious problems right away. Most people will feel some shortness of breath if they climb a flight of stairs quickly when they first arrive at higher altitude. However, some people develop what is called "acute mountain sickness" or AMS. It is important to recognize this as soon as possible because it can become more serious without proper precautions and preparation. It is difficult to predict who will get AMS and why.
Why do some people get altitude sickness while others don't? Essentially, it has to do with how your body reacts to the decreased oxygen levels at higher altitudes. Your body has a natural response to protect itself from low levels of oxygen by slowing down your heart rate and blood flow. This reaction makes it feel like you're working harder than you actually are while exercising.
How do you avoid altitude sickness in Colorado? That's a common question. The good news, there's a few things you can do to help prevent altitude sickness. As a company where we work with hotels throughout Colorado dealing with tourists altitude sickness, we complied our top three tips below. As with anything else, prevention is your best bet. If you know you're headed to high altitudes, take extra care to prepare yourself. That way, even if symptoms of altitude sickness do start to crop up, they'll be mild and temporary.
Since 2008, Zaca been passionate about creating a high quality natural supplements that supports the Colorado lifestyle. Our Zaca chewables has been used by tens of thousands of visitors and locals alike for altitude. Formulated with a unique blend of high altitude ingredients including both Glutathione and Glutamine, the synergistic benefits help your body rehydrate, replenish and recover. With 1200mg of ingredients, take these fast-acting chewables prior to arriving at high altitude and the during each day. Try Zaca's altitude supplement today to feel and perform at your peak.
SOURCES:
1. The Possible Importance of Glutamine Supplementation to Mood and Cognition in Hypoxia from High Altitude
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7760805/
2. Colorado Springs Elevation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Springs,_Colorado