Altitude Sickness-Co Springs?
 

Am researching online for a friend who is going to Colorado Springs for a viewing/burial. She's 43, a bit overweight, walks an hour everyday. Other than being a bit anxious (and the weight-40#+), she doesn't have health situations. However, she is afraid she is going to suffer symptoms of high altitude, as she's lived in Florida all her life. How much does altitude sickness affect someone in Colorado Springs as compared to other areas of the state please? Thanks.

Colorado Springs is just above 6,000 feet. Have her keep her activites down the first day and drink plenty of water. If she is going to do any site seeing in the area she should wait a day or two before going to higher elevations.

http://www.coloradosprings-travel.co...ps20/index.php

She probably won't even notice it.

Utahtea

Colorado Springs won't be that bad. As Utahtea said, lots of water. Further, stay away from alcohol and take asprin for the altitude headache. If it's a problem for her, she may ask for a perspcription of diamox.

I agree that she probably won't notice it, other than getting winded a little more easily. If she walks an hour a day at home, she should be fine. I live in Colorado, and among friends and family from sea level, I don't usually see people having problems like headaches and fatigue until elevations of 7500 to 8000 feet.

Tell her to forget about her idea of ascending Pike's Peak...THERE is where she may have problems.

Agree that for someone with normal lung capacity - your friend isn't a smoker is she? - 6,000 feet is rarely an issue for normal activities. It may be if she tries to do her normal one hour walk though. Many more issues start to appear with 8,000 plus feet or if someone has dimished lung capactiy (or other major health issues).

Ditto on Pike's Peak. When I was a teenager we took one of those van trips up there and one woman (with a very annoying voice) kept warning her husband about altitude sickness over and over. About half way up she started getting light-headed and my uncle (who was a doc) took her pulse and thought it wouldn't be safe for her to continue. We had such a peaceful ride the rest of the way up and her husband smiled the whole time!

So you just put her out of the car? And left her at altitude?

I've lived at sea level virtually all of my life but have never even noticed altitude changes until about 9000 feet. In my experience, fitness and age do not seem to be reliable predictors for who will suffer most from altitude sickness.

NO Grasshopper! The tour company dropped her off at one of the brake inspection points. One of their vans coming down picked her up.

PS Grasshopper,

I had to LOL at the vision you must have had!

Two 'symptoms' she may notice are shortness of breath and feeling sleepy. As stated before, get lots of rest and drink lots of water. Colorado Springs is just around 6,ooo ft and only mild 'symptoms' should be noticed. If she wants to walk, try to avoid hills but that may be impossible. Enjoy the visit.

I often go from DFW to San Miguel de Allende, MX (6200-6500 ft).
Only once did we have a a minor problem, but it was the hottest May in 40 years, we were a bit dehydrated and each had two Margaritas.
Stay hydrated and watch the alcohol!
M

I go to Denver & Boulder often on business (I live in NYC). I usually feel kind of lightheaded the first night there, but that's ONLY if I eat a big meal that first day. Lots of food means the blood is moving out of your brain and into your stomach to digest that food. I've learned my lesson...it took me years to realize why I was always dizzy that 1st night. Now I stick to light meals at high elevations. I just came back from Peru (10000-14000 ft) and also felt there that I only felt the dizziness after eating a lot. THERE I got terrible headaches at night (Excedrin Migraine really helped) though I only got those in Colorado when I camped over 9,000 ft.

Thanks for all your help everyone! She was most concerned with the headache and dizziness. How far ahead of time should she be taking tylenol - and does that Excedrin Migraine make you sleepy?? LOL Thanks!

I meant to ask, how far ahead of time before she LANDS in Co. Springs should she be taking the tylenol or other for a possible headache? Thanks...

She might want to talk to her doctor about that, but I wouldn't take Tylenol in advance; I'd only take it if I actually developed a headache.

Exedrine Migraine has caffiene in it so sleepiness isn't a problem.

I get a little affected by the altitude sometimes in Denver - I live at sealevel. It's not a big deal though - just drink extra water, take asprin, and turn in early the first night there.

As far as alititude goes, does anyone know what it is in Glenwood Springs and Avon?

They went and they conquered. My friend did fine. Although she got a tiny bit winded when they walked from the Air Force Academy gift shop to the chapel. Then again, there are "steep" sidewalks on the trail there. Well, "steep" to her. :-) Thanks everyone for your help!