Altitude sickness is an often overlooked risk June 30 2015
The Wall Street Journal has a great piece on altitude sickness and the risks associated with not properly preparing for higher elevations.
“Altitude illness is caused by the interaction of genes and the environment, and it can happen to the sedentary executive or the triathlete,” says Peter Hackett, director of the nonprofit Institute for Altitude Medicine in Telluride, Colo.
The rise in popularity in mountain climbing rose 16% in 2014 from three years earlier, according to the nonprofit Outdoor Foundation. Nepal has seen a doubling over the last decade, with trekking and mountaineering among the top reasons, according to government statistics.
AltoLab can be an additional solution for those looking to acclimate to these higher elevations. Altitude training helps the body deal with this thinner air. It's important to understand two important things:
- As you climb in altitude the air gets thinner (less oxygen in the air) and
- The amount your body can absorb is less (reduced oxygen in the blood) hence your body changes or adapts to cope with this reduction in oxygen.
The body adapts to this change. Red blood cells in your body carry oxygen to muscles and vital organs. When the body is faced with less oxygen (such as at higher altitudes) it sends a signal to produce more red blood cells.
This means that the body becomes more efficient at delivering oxygen to muscles and this is the same as getting fitter and stronger. Altitude exposure makes you fitter and stronger and promotes better oxygen delivery throughout the body resulting in acclimatization.
Whether you are returning from the mountains or just getting ready to go, AltoLab will help you achieve your health and fitness goals.