“TAKING IT SLOW IN THE HIGH COUNTRY”
By Jeanne Horne, Bar-H Outfitters, Meeker, Colorado
(Research material obtained from The Memorial Hospital in Craig, CO)
Each hunting season hunters head for the mountains of Colorado, many of whom come from areas of significantly lower elevation. The great difference in elevation may leave some hunters feeling uncomfortable. Colorado’s mountains range from the 14,000 foot peaks where sheep and goats tend to live to the lower elevations in the valley floors such as the Arkansas River which is 3,350 feet. The average elevation in Colorado is 6,800 feet which is considerably higher than most areas that hunters come from.
To hunters unaccustomed to the increase in elevation, coming to Colorado can be a shock to their systems, and physical exertion without proper acclamation can lead to serious medical problems.
High altitude sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen in the thin mountain air. It can affect anyone regardless of their age, sex or, oddly enough, physical condition. When your lungs take in less oxygen with each breath, the amount of oxygen in your blood declines, which is medically referred to as “hypoxia.”
Symptoms of high altitude sickness can appear within 48 hours of arriving at higher elevations. The higher the altitude, the greater the effects will be. A mild form of altitude sickness is referred to as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and it affects between 20 and 30 percent of the visitors to Colorado.
People experiencing AMS may feel flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, headaches, vomiting and sleeping difficulty. Sometimes swelling of hands and feet also occurs, and shortness of breath. Heart rate and breathing rate will increase due to the body trying to deliver more oxygen to its tissues. Most hunters who are affected by AMS feel the symptoms during the first 3 days at higher elevations and generally feel better by the 4th day, or the symptoms have completely gone away.
For those with a pre-existing heart disease or people with lung disease usually feel the effects of high altitude sickness even at low elevations in Colorado. Others typically do not experience AMS until they are over 7,000 feet.
Of a more serious nature is High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, or HAPE, which can occur 24 to 72 hours after reaching elevations above 8,000 feet. HAPE typically begins with coughing and shortness of breath, and can rapidly progress to a severe shortness of breath and frothy sputum. Both are indications of the lungs filling with fluid and is referred to as pulmonary edema. At very high altitudes, body fluid can leak into the brain, called brain or cerebral edema. Cerebral edema and pulmonary edema are serious and can be life-threatening. A person experiencing either of these conditions typically shows signs of confusion and poor judgment. Anyone showing these symptoms should immediately be taken to lower elevations, put on oxygen (if available) and seek immediate medical attention.
One of the best ways to avoid or lessen the effects of altitude sickness is to increase altitude slowly. Most people acclimatize within a few days. If gradual ascent is not possible, especially for hunters who fly in to their high altitude destinations, there are other measures that can be taken to ensure health and safety.
· Avoid strenuous activity for the first day or two.
· Drink extra fluid, preferably water
· Limit caffeine as it tends to dehydrate
· Limit alcohol consumption, since its effect is magnified at higher altitude
· Obtain medication from your doctor to prevent or treat altitude sickness, if recommended by your physician
Other recommendations for managing high altitude sickness include maintaining a good “work & rest” cycle before your hunt, eating carbohydrate-rich foods and avoiding fats, caffeine and alcohol.
Plan ahead and be aware of the symptoms; both will go a long way in making your hunting trip a successful and enjoyable one. Safe hunting!
