Get High? Attitudes about Altitude
Imagine you’re on the trip of a lifetime to Ecuador, home of the highest capital city, Quito, at 2,800m above sea level.
You’d want nothing to ruin this experience, right? Illness or generally feeling ‘blah’ is totally unwelcome baggage on holiday. You want to be at your best, feeling excited, energised and ready to explore the world.
But Quito (for example) at 2,800m above sea level may have the potential to drag you down. With only 14.6 per cent oxygen in the air, compared to 20.9 per cent at sea level, such as London, Quito is a destination that requires preparation more than a Spanish phrasebook and a pair of sunglasses.
Trips to high altitude environments can cause what’s known as altitude sickness, but what we call here at The Altitude Centre ‘acute mountain sickness’ (AMS). This is the effect of high altitude and lower oxygen on our body that commonly occurs at elevations above 2,400m.
Mild AMS can feel like a headache, fatigue, dizziness, pins and needles, sleep disturbance and even nausea. Not fun on holiday, even if it’s last night’s pisco that’s caused it!
Worsening symptoms of AMS, which can occur if you’re particularly sensitive to altitude, can include severe headaches, vomiting, decreased coordination and shortness of breath.
BUT DON’T WORRY BECA– — USE WITH THE HELP OF FITNESS ADVENTURE TRAVEL AND THE ALTITUDE CENTRE YOU ARE IN SAFE HANDS…
Prevention is always better than cure, and preparation is key. To ensure you minimise the effects and risks of altitude, you can pre-acclimatise before your trip at The Altitude Centre.
You can learn how sensitive you are to altitude; how your body responds in low oxygen environments, and get advice and guidance from altitude experts about how best to train for your trip.
Fitness Adventure Travel holidays are all about exploring new parts of the world and ensuring you’re at your physical peak to get the most out of your trip. We work closely with The Altitude Centre, as they’re the only facility in the country that enables people to experience and train in altitudes that simulate heights of up to 6,000m.
If you’re interested in finding out more, email us or visit The Altitude Centre.
