Telluride’s Institute for Altitude Medicine Seeks To Promote the Health of People Living, Working and Traveling to High Altitude
Shortness of breath, headaches, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping… sometimes the cost of visiting the natural beauty and recreational meccas of high altitude resorts is more than financial. Dr. Peter Hackett (pictured above), founder and director of the Institute for Altitude Medicine (IFAM) says, “the effects of high altitude are very manageable, and in fact, can even be good for you.” According to IFAM, the adjustment period can be improved by following a few simple guidelines:
- Acclimatize by spending a night below 8,000 feet en route to altitude.
- Gingko Biloba in a few studies was helpful in preventing altitude sickness when started 3-5 days prior to travel. Dosage is 100mg twice a day.
- Drink plenty of water to ensure you are hydrated.
- Limit exertion on your fi rst day at altitude.
- Eat light, well-balanced meals.
- Avoid alcohol the fi rst 24 hours at altitude.
- Ibuprofen (Motrin©), acetaminophen (Tylenol©), or aspirin are all good for treating altitude headaches.
- Diamox© (Acetazolamide) is a prescription medication that prevents altitude illness when taken 1-2 days prior to altitude exposure and the fi rst two days at altitude.
IFAM offers a comprehensive “menu of services” to prevent and treat the effects of altitude, including high-altitude consultations, a comprehensive high-altitude physical, oxygen therapy, sleep studies, cardiac exercise treadmill testing, pulmonary function testing, echocardiography, ambulatory blood pressure and oxygen monitoring and nocturnal oxygen monitoring.
For more information, contact IFAM at 970-728-6767, or visit www.altitudemedicine.org.