Living at 9000'?

[zionvier]

Oh yeah forgot a few things.... (couple of those posts reminded me... like about the flat screens)

Oxygen and Alcohol: don't try to drink the same amount as you did in the lower altitudes. You're lacking oxygen to your brain as it is, so you'll get drunk faster up there. (there's a lot more to it than that, but I won't go into it all).

Oxygen and exercise: No matter how in shape you are, you're going to notice you can't do the same things you could at the lower elevation. You're not as "out of shape" as you're thinking. Muscles need oxygen to work, so they are not going to work as good as when you were down the hill. The good news is that you're body will adapt and transport oxygen more efficiently to compensate. I've also heard that you develop an extra pint of blood to help transport more oxygen, but I'm not a doctor, so I can't say whether that's true or not. Just don't donate blood for a while after you move up there, you'll need it just to carry those groceries up the stairs

pregnancy: High altitude babies tend to have a lower birth weight. Don't worry though, the hospitals are used to that and your doctor can talk to you about any concerns.

[BarryK123]

Originally Posted by zionvier

Oxygen and exercise: No matter how in shape you are, you're going to notice you can't do the same things you could at the lower elevation. You're not as "out of shape" as you're thinking. Muscles need oxygen to work, so they are not going to work as good as when you were down the hill. The good news is that you're body will adapt and transport oxygen more efficiently to compensate. I've also heard that you develop an extra pint of blood to help transport more oxygen, but I'm not a doctor, so I can't say whether that's true or not. Just don't donate blood for a while after you move up there, you'll need it just to carry those groceries up the stairs

You don't develop more blood, but a higher concentration of red blood cells, which carry the oxygen to the tissues. It's the same idea used by the athletes, busted for EPO (the natural substance the body produces which stimulates red blood cell production.)

[BillRadio]

Ah, but the other side of the coin is that people who live in higher elevations live longer. Their heart gets a better workout and the longest life spans are found in Colorado counties that border the continental divide.

Altitude and the heart: A cardiologist speaks about life in the mountains | SummitDaily.com

However, if you already have heart disease, symptoms will show up sooner.