High Altitude: How Our Bodies Adapt
High Altitude: How Our Bodies Adapt Whether you’re climbing a fourteener or just visiting the Mile High City for a week of recreational fun, one thing is for certain — both locations are a lot higher than sea level. But what’s the magic number that dictates when you’ve reached a high altitude? The sweet spot is anywhere between 4,900 to 11,500 feet. If you go higher, you’ve reached the even more elusive (and slightly less oxygenated) very high altitude. So, while you’re sipping that CBD-infused latte in downtown Denver, it may not look or even feel like you’re on top of the world. But if you’ve only just arrived, we’re willing to bet that you might notice one or two of the side effects of being in a high-altitude location, like dizziness, headaches or nausea. So why do we face these occasional uncomfortable symptoms and how do our bodies adapt to such a drastic change in height? In this article, we’ll break down how we acclimate to high altitude, what altitude sickness is and how to prepare for your next high-elevation getaway. How Does Your Body Adapt to High Altitude? When you arrive at a high-altitude location, it would be wonderful if you could snap your fingers and bam — instantly adjust your body to its new environment
