My hubby and I are going to be spending a week out west… Albquerque & Santa Fe, to be exact. From previous visits, I remember I always have a certain degree of difficulty adjusting to the higher altitude (I live in the mid-Atlantic) and was wondering if there are any herbs or other remedies that may help me adjust better. For instance, I always feel like my balance isn’t quite what it usually is, I get a little dizzier, have a harder time maintaining my usual appetite,etc.
Also, the lack of humidity always takes its toll - my skin and hair dry out, I wake up with nosebleeds, etc. Same question posed - any special precautions I can take to help avoid this?
Other than those factors I’m damn excited about spending a week out west. Good to get away from the east coast for a spell.
Well, there’s not much one can do to acclimatize to altitude than to spend time there. Take it easy and don’t exert yourself the first couple of days. Don’t smoke. At about 3000 ft, New Mexico isn’t that high of an altitude, as long as you stay off the taller plateaus. You should be able to acclimatize within two to three days.
As for herbs, Ginkgo Biloba is said to increase blood flow to the brain, helping it get more oxygen. I’ve tried it and can’t say it did anything for me, but (aside from the $14 hit on my wallet) it didn’t hurt. IANAD, but I would expect that anything you take to adjust to the altitude would just delay your natural acclimitazion.
I used to have a real problem with the dry air in Colorado, especially in winter, so I can sympathize. Bring a humidifier for your hotel room/RV/tent/whatever, and run it all night while you sleep. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol, caffiene, and other diuretics.
There is a prescription medication available that triggers your body to make more red blood cells. I can’t remember the name, but your physician should know. If not, call a random medical clinic in one of the towns you’re going to be visiting, and ask them for inormation. The key to this medication, though, is that you have to take it about a week before you go up to elevation, rather than waiting until you get there. And if you’re an athlete, use of this drug is considered cheating.
Drinking lots more water and sleeping with a humidifier in the room makes a huge difference. In a high altitude environment, the air is usually very dry, and you’ll lose a lot of water through your lungs as you breathe. This leads to dehydration, which can feel very much like a hangover. When I lived in a ski town once upon a time, we used to tell visitors that if they waited until they were thirsty to drink water, they’d never catch up.
Nelson,
Think you mean EPO, (erythopotion? something like that) that some cyclists allegedly use. I think taking it easy and drinking plenty of water should do unless you exercise heavily. I was in CO several years ago and was fine except after the skiing, and that was on the order of 10 or 11,000 feet. Then I panted pretty heavy. Denver, no sweat.