Work and play in high altitudes when you’re not used to them can be tricky. Certain prep can ease your transitions and help you have a good time up top, whether that’s Denver, Nepal, or Macchu Picchu!

1. 1. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate. High elevations have low humidity and your lungs will be breathing harder which will dehydrate you quickly. Your blood needs lots of water to not turn into sludge. Don’t make your heart work harder than it has to by letting yourself get dehydrated. The symptoms of dehydration are similar to that of altitude sickness and can make them worse- ie headaches, fatigue, and nausea.
   2. Don’t forget sunscreen. You are literally closer to the sun. Also, the atmosphere is a bit thinner so that UV will hit you right in the face.
   3. Watch your physical activity at first. It’s easy to underestimate the effect heights have on your body until you’re at the point of fainting. Go slow while you get used to it and let a buddy know if you’re feeling woozy. Don’t be afraid to sit down if you need to.
   4. Go easy on the alcohol. Cocktails are going to hit a bit harder in high elevations because you may already feel slightly woozy or dizzy. They will also add to the dehydration problem. If you drink, drink less than usual and have extra water to compensate.
   5. Grab a banana. Foods high in potassium can help with salt intake which can help you stay hydrated and keep your blood doing like it should.
   6. Snack on some leafy greens. 50% of the American population is low in magnesium. Magnesium and iron both help your blood transport oxygen- kind of a thing when you’re in heights. Anemia will make it harder to acclimatize to high elevations.
   7. Wear layers. The weather can change quickly up there and it’s often windy. Good idea to have options.
   8. Rest. If you’re not feeling great or feel tired, don’t be afraid to sit and rest. You won’t be able to do as much as you usually can, so don’t get yourself in trouble… like trying to outrun mountain goats…

Like recovering from Jet Lag, there are hard ways and there are easy ways of dealing with high altitudes. Do yourself a favor and make it the easy way so you can be sure to have a great time!

Have you had trouble with altitude sickness? How did you cope? What would you do next time? Let me know in the comments!