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Folks,
This
is some good information that you may like to pass
on to our membership and friends from an old
friend about altitude sickness that some may
experience when muzzle loading hunting or camping
in the mountains of Colorado as well as any of the
Rocky Mountain states.
Elmer
Altitude
Sickness
Elmer,
To answer
your question on altitude sickness I’ll explain
it as simple as possible without too many medical
terms, they can be mind boggling.
Much of
altitude sickness is from a degree of dehydration
due to the dry air. You loose an incredible amount
of water from your skin and breath. This
contributes significantly to the weakness and
lassitude. The headaches are from a degree of
brain swelling which is not usually dangerous
below 14k to 18k elevations, but has killed
climbers at higher elevations. That is why most
knowledgeable climbers carry there own inject able
Decadron (dexamethasone) a steroid which does
reduce swelling of the brain.
As for the
milder altitude problems that you get (and so do I
if I'm not careful...I live at about 700 feet),
I'll tell you what I do. I make sure that I get
extra sleep when I fly to those mountains because
sleep deprivation compounded by jet lag
contributes to the altitude problems. I take 2
aspirin 3-4 times daily for the beginning a day
before I arrive and for 2-3 days later. Aspirin
has a significant anti-inflammatory effect and
prevents clots both large and "micro".
(I generally take 1-2 daily all the time because I
seem to be prone to injuries from encounters with
the 4-leggeds and I don't want to die suddenly
from a blood clot that I didn't know I had.
A young lady
friend of mine died agouti 6 weeks after an auto
accident years ago because of a clot!). I make
myself drink water far beyond what my thirst would
dictate...a good measure of your degree of
hydration is to watch your urine. It should appear
nearly colorless, like water. The degree of color
has to do with concentration, unless you are
taking something that colors it like some
vitamins. And finally, you should allow yourself
at least one full day and preferably 2-3, to
acclimate without strenuous activity. Make
yourself walk each day several times...only 15
minutes each the first day and then up to 30+.
I have flown
into ski at 14,000 feet and have developed this
scheme for myself because I have, in the past,
missed several days due to headache, nausea, etc.
I have not had the problem since I began paying
attention to the above issues. I have also
reviewed the medical literature on this and so
speak from both experience and known facts (which
are few). Of course, you won't always have the
luxury to do the 3 day adjustment, but knowing
about it should encourage you to develop a plan
that will lessen your chance of feeling rotten.
Hope
this helps. By the way, if you have a problem with
that much aspirin, even 1-2 per day have a
significant impact. Ibuprofen and Tylenol do not!
Spotted
Snake
(Bruce M. Ashley, MD)
Aux Ailments de Pays!
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Thank you Spotted
Snake, the Doctor
has probably have saved several folks some hard
times with this information and what to do.
Respectfully Yours.
Elmer
Pope
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