High-altitude headache Q I was visiting my son in Boulder, Colo., recently and came down with a nasty headache when we went hiking in the mountains outside of town. I was shocked because Boulder's elevation isn't that terribly high. Could I have had altitude sickness, and can I avoid it next time?
Q & A: Dealing with high altitudes
I was visiting Boulder, Colo., recently and came down with a nasty headache when we went hiking in the mountains. Could I have had altitude sickness?
July 23, 2011 at 9:03PM
A Altitude sickness usually doesn't occur until you're at 7,500 feet or so; Boulder nestles in the mountains at a mere 5,400 feet. Whether altitude caused the headache depends on how high you climbed and how quickly after your arrival you headed for the hills.
Above 7,500 feet, the lesser amount of oxygen in the air means our red blood cells have less oxygen to deliver to our vital organs, promoting headaches in milder cases (known as acute mountain sickness) and a host of life-threatening problems in the worst cases. Our bodies compensate by producing more red blood cells, but that takes time. Next time you're in Boulder, hold off on the hike until you've been there a few days so your body can acclimate, and be sure to stay well hydrated by avoiding alcohol and drinking plenty of water.
KERRI WESTENBERG
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COLLEEN A. COLES
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