WHO CAN GET ALTITUDE SICKNESS IN ALBUQUERQUE?
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Travelers
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Runners
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Bikers
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Hot-Air-Balloonists
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Asthmatics
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Hikers
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Rock Climbers
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Elderly
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Smokers
WHY DOES ALTITUDE SICKNESS HAPPEN?
The pressure of the air that surrounds you is called barometric pressure. When you go to higher altitudes, this pressure drops and there is less oxygen available.
If you live in a place that’s located at a moderately high altitude, you get used to the air pressure. But if you travel to a place at a higher altitude than you’re used to, your body will need time to adjust to the change in pressure.
Any time you go above 8,000 feet, you can be at risk for altitude sickness.
WHAT TYPES OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS ARE THERE?
There are three kinds of altitude sickness:
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Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is the mildest form and it’s very common. The symptoms can feel like a hangover – dizziness, headache, muscle aches, nausea.
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High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a buildup of fluid in the lungs that can be very dangerous and even life threatening.
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High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is the most severe form of altitude sickness and happens when there’s fluid in the brain. It’s life threatening and you need to seek medical attention right away.
Altitude sickness and dehydration
Higher altitudes cause you to dehydrate faster, often without realizing it. When you are at a higher altitude, your hunger and thirst decrease. The less you drink, of course, the easier it is to get dehydrated.
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If you are visiting New Mexico, there’s a good chance you will be hiking or climbing. When you are exercising, your body will use water that much faster. Dry mountain air and often-cold temperatures at higher altitudes can lead you to become dehydrated without realizing it. On top of that, your fluid metabolism changes at higher altitudes, causing both dehydration and a loss of overall water in the body.
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Hydration is always essential, but especially so at high altitudes since it is so easy to become dehydrated without realizing it. Water hydrates your body and keeps your organs and cells running normally. Hydration also flushes out the cell-damaging free radicals produced by exercise. By removing these free radicals, hydration plays a large part in promoting muscle healing and repair after a long day in the mountains, which is especially important during high-altitude performance.
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Water also increases the volume of blood to oxygenate. By drinking water – or getting a hydration IV – you can increase your blood oxygen levels to help you recover from altitude sickness faster.
How iv therapy can help
Although it is easy to get dehydrated at high altitudes, it is just as easy to stay hydrated. That said, one of the most common symptoms of altitude sickness is nausea, and no one wants to drink a glass of water while they’re feeling nauseous.
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That’s where IV hydration and altitude sickness intersect. IV hydration is ideal for staying hydrated when you are nauseous. IV therapy is administered directly into your bloodstream, bypassing your stomach for fast and thorough hydration.
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IV hydration can help you recover from the symptoms of altitude sickness faster and improve how you feel. You can opt for add-ons such as anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory medications to help improve your symptoms and your comfort. Many of our IV formulas contain essential vitamins to boost your immune system’s function, helping you feel your best and stay healthy for the rest of your trip.