Altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness, a very common condition that can affect people who get to higher altitudes too fast. The symptoms can range from mild dizziness and headaches to more severe cases resulting in cerebral or pulmonary edema.
While several factors contribute to altitude sickness and its symptoms, including hydration levels, how quickly you ascend, and your overall health, taking specific vitamins can help reduce or eliminate your symptoms. We will explore the best vitamins for altitude sickness and discuss how they can help you stay comfortable and healthy when you go to high altitudes.
Related: IV Therapy Benefits
What Is Altitude Sickness?
You may hear altitude sickness referred to as AMS or acute mountain sickness, which can happen when you ascend to higher altitudes too fast. When you reach high altitudes, the oxygen and air pressure levels are much lower, which can cause a range of symptoms as your body scrambles to adjust to less oxygen.
Common altitude sickness symptoms include nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting, challenges sleeping, fatigue, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. Your symptoms can be mild to severe, and in some instances, they can be life-threatening.
Generally, altitude sickness starts to happen when you get above 8,000 feet, but it can also impact people at lower elevations. How severe your altitude sickness is can depend on various factors, including the altitude levels you reach, the ascent rate, genetic factors, and your fitness level.
Suppose you have plans to travel to an area that is at a higher altitude. In that case, you must take precautions to prevent altitude sickness, including staying well-hydrated, acclimatizing slowly, avoiding sleeping pills or alcohol, and taking vitamins if your doctor recommends it.
Are you worried about altitude sickness? Prime IV Hydration & Wellness has IV therapy to help treat and prevent the onset of altitude sickness.
The Best Vitamins for Altitude Sickness
You want to enjoy your travels to higher elevations, so preventing altitude sickness is one of the best things you can do. At Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, we know what the best vitamins you should have in your system before you travel are, and they include but are not limited to:
Iron
Iron helps your body produce hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs throughout your body. Your body might need higher iron levels at higher altitudes to help create more red blood cells. Iron-rich foods include poultry, red meat, beans, seafood, and green, leafy vegetables.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 helps your body produce more red blood cells, and these cells are the ones that carry oxygen in your body. Your body can create more red blood cells at higher altitudes because it’s trying to make up for the lower oxygen levels. This vitamin can provide essential support for this process and boost your oxygen uptake. Vitamin B6 is in whole grains, poultry, fish, and meat.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and plays a massive role in helping your immune system. It’s also a critical component in college formation, and college helps to keep your blood vessels strong and healthy. However, when you reach high altitudes, where there is less oxygen and the air is much thinner, it can weaken your body’s immune response, making you more vulnerable to illnesses and infections.
Vitamin C can strengthen your immune system, improve oxygen uptake, and protect your body against oxidative stress. Foods with higher levels of vitamin C include strawberries, citrus fruit, bell peppers, and kiwi, but you can also get an IV infusion straight to your bloodstream to load up on it before you leave.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D strengthens your immune system and improves your bone health. At higher altitudes, where you get less sunlight exposure, your body might be unable to produce enough of this vitamin. However, you can get it from fortified foods, sunlight, supplements, and our IV therapy before you go on your trip.
Related: Benefits of Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that can help shield your body against the adverse effects of oxidative stress when you get to higher altitudes. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can lower your risk of developing altitude sickness. You can find it in vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, or our high-quality IV infusions.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps promote healthy nerve and muscle function and can help lower your risks of headaches and cramps at higher altitudes. It can also work to regulate the calcium levels in your body, and changes in altitude can impact them. A few foods with higher magnesium levels include whole grains, seeds, nuts, and green vegetables.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that helps with wound healing, immune function, and your perception of taste. At higher altitudes, you can be more prone to issues with respiratory infections, but zinc can help boost your immune response and ward off these infections. You can find zinc in shellfish, whole grains, legumes, and poultry.
Are you ready to get your IV therapy before you go on your next adventure so you’re in top shape? Search for the closest Prime IV Hydration & Wellness center and book your appointment!
Get an Infusion of Vitamins to Treat and Prevent Altitude Sickness
Anyone planning a trip to a high-altitude location and wants to reduce their chances of developing altitude sickness should consider one of our IV infusions packed with vitamins for altitude sickness. At Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, we design our IV hydration treatments to replenish your body’s natural levels of nutrients, vitamins, electrolytes, and fluids.
In turn, this can give quick relief from nausea, headaches, and other symptoms linked to altitude sickness. By taking this approach and being proactive to help prevent and manage altitude sickness, you can enjoy your adventure to the fullest.
