Tuesday, May 1, 2012

i live in florida and im traveling to colorado, elevation sickness

i live in florida and im traveling to colorado, elevation sickness?
My husband, son and i are going to visit family in Colorado. We live in Florida. We are worried about elevation sickness. Our visit will be for 4 days. What are the chances of us getting it? Are there things we can do to prevent it from happening? And also does my son have a greater chance of gettin git, he is 5 years old. Any advice.. thanks.
Health & Safety - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Some people get it, most don't. Some people just feel tired, others get headaches and feel exhausted. I moved from Florida to Colorado ( elevation just over 4,500 ft.) and had no problems, but got a headache when i drove up over 8,000 ft. In later years , lived at 6,000 ft with no problems. So...if you do not go over 6,000 ft., problems should be minimal. If you go over 8,000, problems are more likely. Carry Tylenol, stay very well hydrated, do not go up to extremely high elevations the first or 2nd day. Severe symptoms are extremely rare at less than 10,000 ft. See site below.
2 :
Unfortunately, elevation sickness can be a consideration when visiting Colorado, since the State is much higher in elevation than coastal areas. It is my impression that the problem is usually more pronounced when visiting mountainous regions, such as when driving along the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, for instance (it is a very scenic road which winds across the tops of several mountain peaks in the park). The condition usually appears as queasiness or nausea. Certainly most people do not suffer from elevation sickness when they visit Colorado, but it can occur sometimes. It may help to take a little time to adjust to the higher elevations gradually i.e. become acclimated to lower elevations before proceeding to higher ones. If you are very concerned about this issue, you might want to consult with your family physician about elevation sickness before your visit. Best wishes for a good visit. Colorado is a beautiful state!