Expert: Steve Collins - 6/2/2011

Question
Our family is going to Estes Park this summer.  Do you have
any suggestions on how to adjust to the altitude so we don't get sick?

Answer
Believe it or not, the biggest issue with "altitude sickness" up here is not actually the altitude--it is dehydration.  On a very DAMP summer day, our humidity may make it up to about 20% or so, and most people are just not used to the dry air.  Couple that with the fact that you don't notice how much water your body is losing (sweat dries almost instantly, so you don't really feel it), and you will start feeling the effects of dehydration--which are very similar to the symptoms of altitude sickness.

The best thing to do is start overloading your body with WATER (not soda, not alcohol, and definitely nothing that is carbonated)about 2-3 days before you leave.  Drink as much water as you can physically handle.  Then, continue drinking water while you are here--if you feel thirsty, you have already waited too long to drink.

If you do get a bit of a headache, aspirin (or one of the equivalents) will help.  Avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine for your first 24 hours or so at altitude, and take it easy on your first day--give your body a chance to adjust before you head out on that 10 mile hike to the top of a 14,000 foot mountain.  

The other suggestion I normally make is, if your hotel/condo has humidifiers in the closets--USE THEM, especially at night.  If there are no humidifiers, before you go to bed, turn on the shower(s) with hot water for about 10-15 minutes, just to get some humidity in the air.  I have even gone so far as filling the bathtub about half way up with really hot water before bed (and leaving it all night long), just to get some of that humidity in the room.  Trust me, you will sleep MUCH better, and that will make the rest of the trip easier for you.

Of course, please be aware that I am not a doctor, and none of this takes the place of solid medical advice.  Altitude sickness CAN be very serious, so if anyone in your family starts feeling really badly, please seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

Hope that helps!

Steve