How high is it here?
Salt Lake City sits at about 4,226 feet. Park City is close to 7,000 feet. The towns at the top of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons sit above 8,500 feet.
MedlinePlus says altitude sickness usually shows up above 8,000 feet. It is more likely if you live near sea level, go up quickly, or have not had time to adjust. Some people get it at heights where others feel fine.
Signs to watch for
MedlinePlus lists these among the usual signs of mild to moderate altitude sickness:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling tired
- Trouble sleeping
- Not feeling hungry
- A fast pulse
- Getting short of breath when you exert yourself
When it is an emergency
Altitude sickness can turn serious. Call 911 if someone is confused or less alert, is coughing up blood, or is having a hard time breathing, and get them lower as safely as you can.
Chest tightness and trouble walking in a straight line are warning signs too.
MedlinePlus says the main step for any altitude sickness is to get to a lower altitude, and not to keep climbing once symptoms start. An IV drip does not replace that, or a doctor when symptoms are serious.
Going up gradually
MedlinePlus's advice for avoiding it:
- Go up gradually. Above 8,000 feet, take a day or two of rest for every 2,000 feet you climb
- Sleep at a lower altitude when you can
- Drink plenty of fluids. Utah's air is dry, so keep water handy
- Learn the early signs, so you notice them
What an IV visit is
If you want a drip while you are here, a nurse or paramedic comes to your home, office or hotel. You fill out a short medical form first, and your nurse checks your vitals before anything else. Tell them how high you have been and how you feel.
The Hydration drip is one liter of normal saline, the salt-water fluid used in IVs. The Myers Plus drip is a liter of saline with B12, B-Complex, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc and glutathione.
A visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. The needle comes out, and only a tiny flexible tube stays in your vein.
