Tuesday 1 October 2013

Aspen Nightlife and the Altitude




There is more to do in Aspen than ski! The



Aspen nightlife is like nothing you will



experience elsewhere. The warmth and



camaraderie of all of the skiers, from all of the



different lodges is quite special, and remarkable.



You will have a good time in Aspen, no matter



what you choose to do, but there is one thing



that you should be very aware of before you



start your party – the altitude.





Aspen sits about 8000 feet above sea level.



Unless you live in a high altitude area, you will



need to adjust to this altitude. You may find



yourself feeling dizzy or light headed, and you



may even find it a bit difficult to breath. Altitude



Sickness is a serious problem, and if your



symptoms become extreme, you should seek



medical attention.





If you will be drinking, you need to know that the



altitude will have a large impact on the way your



body handles the alcohol. Many people who are



not used to such a high altitude find that they



become drunker on much less alcohol, in a very



short period of time. It is best that you avoid



drinking alcohol at all until you have adjusted



to the altitude.





It is also important to recognize the signs of



both Altitude sickness and Acute Mountain



Sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness can be



recognized by hyperventilation, shortness of



breath during exertion, increased urination,



changed breathing patterns at night, strange



dreams, and frequently waking from sleep



during the night. Acute Mountain Sickness, on



the other hand, is recognized by loss of appetite,



nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness,



dizziness, light-headedness, difficulty sleeping,



confusion, and a staggering gait.





As you can see, the symptoms of both Altitude



Sickness and Acute Mountain Sickness



somewhat resemble the symptoms of drinking



too much alcohol. The only way to rule out being



drunk is to not drink for at least 48 hours after



your arrival in the higher altitude. You should



also seek medical attention if your symptoms



last more than 48 hours, or if you show signs



of Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS can be



deadly if it is not treated.





Health care professionals suggest that you



avoid drinking alcohol because the effects are



magnified at a high altitude. Avoid strenuous



activity for the first couple of days after arriving



at the higher altitude. Drink extra fluid and visit



a doctor if you have symptoms of AMS



immediately for treatment.

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