how can someone get use to higher altitude?

Question

How can someone who lives at sealevel adjust to the higher altitude in Provo, Utah? What kind of things could you do. I go to provo for a few days and then I have to go to lower level. any ideas.

Answer 1

Get more exercise before you go. Get plenty of rest also before you go. You might find you need to rest more while you are there. Also dronk lots and lots of water. The body seems to lose water more quickly at higher altitude. Breathe deeply. Don't over exert yourself especially if you are not in great shape.

Answer 2

This is a highly unrealistic answer, if you don't have access to one... but you could try using a hyperbaric chamber, like hospitals use for "decompressing" someone who was stupid enough to come up too fast from a scuba-dive. Spend a few hours each day in one of those, every day, for a month or two -- and you'll be able to handle the higher elevation of Provo, Utah.

Otherwise, you'll just have to deal with the problem naturally. Next time you go to Provo, Utah, drive or take a bus. Don't fly out there, it doesn't give you enough time to get used to the change.

Answer 3

I think it's funny how people think that Denver is high altitude, when there are many cities in the western US higher.

As has been said, it takes a while to get your body used to thin air, like a few weeks.

The better in shape your lungs are, the easier it will be. Don't go out running without being aware that you get dizzy and may pass out. I live at 4000 ft and still have adjustments when I go to 7000.

Answer 4

It takes time. In fact, at least 2-3 weeks for your body to adjust by manufacturing enough extra red blood cells to compensate for the decreased oxygen. That's why most olympic teams train in places like Flagstaff or Colorado Springs, so that their body maximizes red blood cells, which are retained at a lower elevation long enough to gain a metabolic advantage in a competetion. Also, if you're a smoker, you'll notice the change in altitude even more than a non-smoker, because the carbon monoxide in cigarete smoke attaches to hemoglobin more easily than oxygen does.

Answer 5

I have a really interesting (but semi unrealistic) solution.

My aunt (yes she's still alive) is a very adventurous person. I can't remember where she went but she was telling me she went rock climbing in some foreign country (I want to say Chile, but unsure). What the natives gave her to deal with the altitude sickness was actually the cocaine plant.

I'm too lazy (its gearing towards the end of the night sorry). To research this for you but I'm sure it wouldn't be hard.

And if your skeptical about the cocaine part, the plant isn't bad on you (thats what cocaine was originally intended for, if I remember correctly, it wasn't until scientists found and isolated the gene or w/e that got you high, then artificially manufacturing a beefed up version of that gene, that it became dangerous.)

Answer 6

Slowly slide into it.

i got altitude sickness and it took me about three days to get used to things

Answer 7

You're supposed to do it slowly and get used to a little at a time. Like under water.

Answer 8

I go from the 2000' level to as high as 6800' on a daily basis, and you just get used to it.

Answer 9

spend 12 hours on top of pikes peek or the night. see how you feel in the morning.
Happy Caving Carroll
I think its 14,000 ft could be wrong. you can drive to the top.

Answer 10

climbers go up lets say 1000 ft, then rest there for a day, then up another 1000 ft, then rest there. this allows them to get acclimatized