8 Steps How To Avoid Altitude Sickness In Denver
If you're flying to Denver, you might have some concerns about altitude sickness. Being based out of Colorado, we'll show you the best 9 ways on how to avoid altitude sickness in Denver.
Denver Altitude
Denver is one of the top cities to visit in the United States, with its beautiful scenery, great people and plenty of outdoor activities. At 5280 feet high, when you visit Denver Colorado it is important to remember that you are at a higher elevation than most other places in the United States.
If you arrive in Denver from sea level, you are likely to experience some of the symptoms of altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness. The air is thinner here with less oxygen, the breathing takes more energy, and the climate is much drier. This results in headaches, nausea and fatigue for some people who have not been to high altitudes before.
Symptoms of altitude sickness may include:
- headache
-
nausea or vomiting
- fatigue or tiredness
- weakness
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- shortness of breath
- insomnia
Whether you're going to a Red Rocks concert, visiting the Rocky Mountains to ski and snowboard, or visiting the vibrant city of Denver, being prepared for altitude sickness will save you a lot of headache...literally speaking. When visiting Denver you'll want to pay attention to symptoms of altitude sickness, and follow these tips below.
8 Steps How To Avoid Altitude Sickness In Denver
The Mile High City is a popular destination for travelers from around the world. With over 600 days of sunshine per year and the Rock Mountains as a backyard, Denver has plenty to offer.
But there are precautions you must take when visiting Denver, especially if you are coming from a low-altitude area. If you don’t take them, you could suffer from altitude sickness, we see visitors often struggle the first few days.
Here are 8 ways how to avoid altitude sickness in Denver:
1. Don’t Overexert Yourself
Exertion increases your heart rate and blood flow, which decreases oxygen levels in your body. Avoid overexerting yourself for the first 24-48 hours after arriving in Denver.
You want to give your body time to rest and adjust to the higher altitudes. This includes minimizing exercise, lifting, hiking and even mild activities until you confirm a period of time with no altitude sickness symptoms.
2. Avoid Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the top causes of altitude sickness. High altitudes like in Denver have a dry air climate and can increase respiration leading to increased fluid loss.
To avoid dehydration drink plenty of water before leaving home, during your flight, and upon arrival. Most visitors don't get adequate amounts of hydration as it takes more water to hydrate than normal. Drink a minimum of half your body weight in water, and more if possible.
To maximize hydration more than water alone, we'd recommend taking our Zaca
hydration tablets that can increase water absorption and electrolyte intake.
3. Minimize Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption dehydrates your body, which worsen symptoms related to altitude sickness like shortness of breath and dizziness. If you must consume alcohol while traveling in Denver, do so in moderation so that it doesn’t affect how well your body adapts.
Alcohol and altitude sickness together is like a double hangover. Wait until your body adapts before you consume any substantial amounts.
Our Zaca chewables are formulated with
liver aid that can help your body process alcohol better.
4. Replenish Glutathione Levels
In research, it has been shown that glutathione levels are depleted when exposed to high altitudes.¹ Glutathione decreases by up to 45%, which makes the body susceptible to free radical damage and can further worsen altitude sickness.
5. Get Plenty Of Rest & Sleep
If you're traveling by plane, make sure you get adequate rest prior to departure. The body needs time to adapt to a change in altitude. It takes at least two days for most people to adjust to a change in elevation.
During your first few days make sure you're sleeping at least 8 hours a night. Proper sleep can help the body adjust better. And during the day take it easy the first 48 hours until no signs of altitude sickness has surfaced.
6. Acclimate Slowly
When you first arrive at your Denver destination, don't rush out and start going on hikes or any mountain trips right away. Allowing your body to acclimate slowly is important.
If you've never been at an altitude over 8,000 feet (2,438 meters), it's best to spend a few days in Denver before going into the Rocky Mountains. This applies especially if you're planning to ski or snowboard in places like Breckenridge, Vail or Aspen.
Your ski trip could be a wreck if you ascend in altitude too fast. After 1-2 nights in Denver, due to acclimation it will be safer to proceed to your mountain destination.
7. Take An Altitude Adjustment Supplement
Outside of hydrating, this is one of the most effective solutions to avoid altitude sickness. With a high-quality
altitude adjustment supplement, your body can be fueled with nutrients to fight off the negative effects of high altitude.
When looking for altitude supplements, research has shown the herb called DHM to be very effective:
-
DHM (Dihydromyricetin) - Extracted from the Hovenia Dulcis tree, DHM was proven in a 2014 study to improve physical performance in high altitudes.²
Our Zaca
altitude tablets are formulated with DHM and Glutathione to help the body recover faster from high altitudes.
8. Altitude Sickness Medicine
While these options may carry risk of damage to your liver or kidneys, and may not be used with alcohol, some might use them in severe altitude sickness situations.
Try Our Top-Rated Altitude Tablets
Discover the benefits of Zaca chewables, the most powerful and effective altitude tablets on the market. Zaca is developed with clinically proven ingredients to help your body rehydrate, replenish and recover faster in high altitude conditions. Formulated with both DHM and Glutathione, it support your body's natural ability to adapt. Travel-friendly, easy to take and fast-acting, try our Zaca altitude supplement today.
SOURCES
1. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
2. Dihydromyricetin Improves Physical Performance under Simulated High Altitude
https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2014/11000/Dihydromyricetin_Improves_Physical_Performance.6.aspx
3. Acetazolamide for the Prevention of Acute Mountain Sickness
https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article/19/5/298/1816289
