


Severe AMS: You may feel short of breath, even at rest.You’ll need to descend to start to feel better. You may experience severe headache, nausea and difficulty with coordination. Moderate AMS: Symptoms start to interfere with your activities.You can likely stay at your current elevation as your body adjusts. Symptoms improve after a few days as your body acclimates. Mild AMS: Symptoms, such as mild headache and fatigue, don’t interfere with your normal activity.Higher than 10,000 feet, 75% of people will get mild symptoms. Most people who get altitude sickness get AMS, acute mountain sickness. What are the different forms of altitude sickness? How common is altitude sickness?Īltitude sickness may occur in up to half of people who climb to elevations above 8,000 feet. The summit of Mount Everest is over 29,000 feet. The Grand Canyon is 6,600 feet above sea level. Denver (known as the “Mile High City”) sits at 5,000 feet, and many Rocky Mountain ski slopes are at 11,000 feet or higher. Very high altitude: 12,000 to 18,000 feet.įor context, New York City is at an elevation of 33 feet above sea level.High altitude: 8,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level.What is considered a “high elevation” in terms of getting altitude sickness?Ĭlimbing to these elevations can bring on symptoms of altitude sickness: Previously had altitude sickness: Talk to your provider about prevention and treatment before your next trip.
DENVER ALTITUDE HOW TO
If you’re planning a trip to a high-altitude location, be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness and how to treat it. Live at low elevation: Since your body isn’t used to higher altitudes, you have a greater risk for symptoms.Are pregnant: Talk to you provider before traveling to a high-altitude location.Have a lung or heart condition: Your healthcare provider may recommend avoiding high altitudes if possible.Your age, sex and general health don’t seem to affect your risk. Who is at risk for altitude sickness?Īnyone can get altitude sickness. Symptoms happen when your body tries to adjust to the lower air pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes. Just visiting a high-altitude location can cause problems for some. This condition happens when you travel to a high altitude (elevation) too quickly. If you’ve ever hiked up a mountain and felt yourself getting nauseous or lightheaded, you may have experienced altitude sickness, also called mountain sickness.
