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What is Altitude Sickness? Altitude Sickness Altitude Sickness Altitude Sickness (also known as Altitude Illness) describes a collection of symptoms that can result when you travel to an elevation much greater than you're used to (high altitude typically starts around 4900 feet or higher, and most ski resorts are at elevations of 6600-11500 feet). Taos, New Mexico (where Taos Herb Company is located), is at a base elevation of 9207 feet. Altitude Sickness has two causes -- less oxygen, and a lower barometric pressure. Higher altitude means thinner air, and thinner air means less oxygen. The further away from sea level, the lower the atmospheric pressure. Lower atmospheric pressure means that there is less air to breathe...and the less air there is to breathe, the less oxygen you get. At the top of Mount Everest, for example, there is only 33% of the oxygen that is available at sea level, meaning you have to take three breaths to get the oxygen you would normally get with just one! You don't have to be at the top of Everest, though, to experience altitude sickness. What the body perceives as an oxygen-deficiency often stimulates the adrenals and increases the heartrate, and can cause one to feel out of breath, have a more rapid heartbeat, or to experience dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weakness, lightheadedness, or a rise in blood pressure. In addition, the body's response to a lack of oxygen often causes insomnia. This is partly because of breathing disturbances related to attempts to increase oxygen in the blood, and is also partly because stimulated adrenals tend to wake one up! The lower barometric pressure also causes your body to expand. A consequence of this is that fluids may flood your tissues, causing such symptoms as swelling of the face or hands or feet, or in more severe cases even life-threatening symptoms like fluid in the lungs (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) or swelling in the brain (High Altitude Cerebral Edema). Altitude Sickness can happen to anyone -- even to the physically fit. If you live at a higher altitude long enough, you will eventually adjust, but most visitors to higher altitudes do experience some symptoms. The adjustment period can take days, weeks, or even months or years. When journeying to a higher altitude, it is recommended that one drink lots of water, avoid alcohol and caffeine, and take in extra chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is thought to improve the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood by mimicking hemoglobin. It is also good to do what you can to reduce the fluids that flood your tissues, and to support your body with adaptogens. Taos Herb Company offers the Altitude Adjustment Aid to combat the sometimes-harsh effects of being in a higher altitude. (Contains Altitude Adjustment Chlorophyll Concentrate, Sierra Vida Altitude Adjustment Tea, etc.). The Altitude Adjustment Chlorophyll Concentrate works by providing chlorophyll to increase the oxygen in your blood. (Our chlorophyll comes from alfalfa and wheatgrass.) The Sierra Vida Altitude Adjustment Tea, by contrast, doesn't so much increase the oxygen in your blood as much as it provides calming herbal support and reduces the fluid that can flood your body at a higher altitude, and decreases water retention. The tea also contains herbal adaptogens which improve your body's ability to adapt to new circumstances. Altitude Adjustment Aid   Altitude Adjustment Chlrophyll Concentrate

Taos Herb Company 710 Paseo del Pueblo Sur - Suite J - Taos, NM 87571 ph: 800-353-1991 ~ outside U.S.: 575-758-1991 ~ fax: 575-758-7641 herbs@taosherb.com
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