[pct-l] Asthma and Altitude

[Gerry Zamora]

I had it as a kid luckily I grew out of it but I would atleast bring it up
to your doc he might have some suggestions to make your hike more enjoyable
atleast bring your meds.
Gerry0625
On Jan 19, 2011 10:18 AM, "Gary Swing" <homelessontherange at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I've also had asthma all my life. Supposedly exercise induced asthma. It
almost never bothers me while backpacking, bicycling, or mountaineering. I
did have an asthma attack once above 13,000 while during a winter climb, but
I attribute that to the wind and cold, not to the altitude.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Gary
>
> --- On Wed, 1/19/11, Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Austin Williams <austinwilliams123 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Asthma and Altitude
> To: "Alphabetsoup" <alphabetsoupmmm at gmail.com>, pct-l at backcountry.net
> Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 9:22 AM
>
>
> I've had asthma my whole life.  I had medicine with me on the trail, but I
> never had to use it.  It was one of the only times my entire life when I
> went that long, with that much physical activity without having difficulty
> breathing.  Kind of amazing.
>
> Not saying the same will happen to you, just wanted to share.
>
> But I am not aware of any concerns with asthma and altitude.  (Athsma and
> DEPTH under water are of HUGE concern that we have to worry about when
scuba
> diving or riding in submarines.... but that's an entirely different
> question).  I'd keep your usual PRN meds with you and (if yours is ever
> triggered by allergies) some anti-allergy meds are a good idea.
>
> I never had to use either, but it's important to be responsible and have
> them with you.  :)
>
> I basically jogged up Mt. Whitney and didn't notice a change in my ability
> to breathe.  I don't know if we are more susceptible to high altitude
> sickness like HACE than others, but that's not something we need to worry
> about as long as we're in the lower 48 states (we just don't have severe
> altitudes in this part of the world).
>
> That being said, climbing to high altitudes is physically demanding... so
if
> your asthma is brought on by strenuous physical activity then naturally
you
> may experience difficulty breathing.  But it shouldn't be any different
than
> if you sprinted around the block at home.
>
> FYI, I'm not doctor... just a life-long asthmatic.
>
> Happy trails!
>
> -Austin Williams
>
> On Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 10:20 PM, Alphabetsoup <alphabetsoupmmm at gmail.com
>wrote:
>
>> I have a question regarding altitude and Asthma-
>>
>> Are there ANY concerns I should be aware of?
>>
>> So far, I have no troubles with asthma attacks when hiking, usually the
air
>> is clean up in the mountains. Asthma is only a year or so new to me, so I
>> have no idea what to expect beyond avoiding triggers.
>>
>> Anyone have any insight into this arena?
>>
>>
>> Paul A.
>>
>> --
>> *Alphabetsoup*
>> *~Soon to be PCT Thru-Hiker April 2011~*
>> * www.postholer.com/alphabetsoup*
>> *
>> *
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>
>
>
> --
> Austin Williams
>
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