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highaltitudehealth.com

We are a blog of information about all things high altitude including the our own experiences as health care practitioners and back country adventurers, the peer-reviewed and published research of the founding physician of our tiny clinic in the Central Rockies of Colorado at 9000' (2743m) Christine Ebert-Santos, MD, MPS (Dr. Chris), our scientific partners around the world in other high altitude communities, and other relevant research and experiences. Stay on top of how altitude affects the body and certain diseases, and how to prepare to travel, live and be active at altitude.

Whether you are visiting the high country for a short hike or ski vacation, planning to move up in elevation for a while, or growing your family in thin air, you will find both anecdotal evidence and more technical discussion about the low-oxygen environment at high altitude.

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Featured Post

Thin Air, Thick Blood: New Post on highaltitudehealth.com

We've explored how altitude might affect surgery and recovery before, and a recent study goes into further detail along with one of our student's personal experiences. Thin Air, Thick Blood: Increased Risk for Blood Clots After Surgery at Elevations Above 4000 Feet "More red blood cell vehicles means more traffic along the blood vessel highways. Such blockage makes the blood more viscous and more prone to forming clots. This is not a a “death trap” for all but can have greater consequences...

6 months ago • 1 min read

So you haven't heard from us in a while, but big news: We've published Surviving and Thriving at Altitude! Dr. Chris has compiled some of the valuable research and altitude expedition articles from highaltitudehealth.com into this excellent resource. It includes the research on the different types and symptoms of high altitude pulmonary edema, the various ways low oxygen environments around the world have affected different bodies taking on different activities, excursions into the Colorado...

7 months ago • 1 min read
A hiker carrying a yellow backpack doubles over for a break while ascending a dirt trail through a juniper forest.

highaltitudehealth.com Hemoglobin at Altitude "When lifespan is increased, the hemoglobin is exposed to glucose in our blood stream for longer, eliciting a higher HbA1c result despite normal blood sugar levels." Can Living at High Altitudes Skew Diagnostic Diabetes Tests? One of our PA students breaks down the findings of a study conducted in China comparing hemoglobin levels (HbA1c) in 95,000 adults living above and below 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). Read more highaltitudehealth.comUnsubscribe...

about 1 year ago • 1 min read
An aerial view of a green high altitude plain spotted in patches of darker green shrubs with a river curving through the middle of the landscape.

new on highaltitudehealth.com Hyperoxia We publish a lot about hypoxia, but this week one of our students shares about hyperoxia: Why Too Much Oxygen Can Be Deadly: The Hidden Molecular Consequences of Hyperoxia While you're unlikely to suffer hyperoxia from any environmental exposure, oxygen may be administered or controlled in various methods of medical treatment. "... clinicians may need to rethink how we use oxygen in medical settings. Rather than focusing solely on delivering “more...

over 1 year ago • 1 min read
A grey mist creeps up the side of a rocky mountain ridge that extends into the blue sky speckled with bright white clouds in the background. A tower of flat rocks balances in the foreground.

March 13, 2025 A Special Hypoxia Series on highaltitudehealth.com! Snowcapped Mt. Ilimani over the city of La Páz, Bolivia at 11,975'/3650m. Dr. Chris has returned from two international conferences on hypoxia where she regularly shares her own high altitude findings and discusses all kinds of phenomena with other experts of elevation from all over the world. Keep your eye on the blog as we share about her experiences and takeaways in the upcoming articles, starting with this one: Sharing at...

over 1 year ago • 1 min read
A smooth highway in the foreground leads downhill toward a panorama of tall, snowy mountain peaks, above deep green pine forests with a snowy emergency ramp for trucks in view and the clearing of a town at the foot of the mountains in the distance.

New on highaltitudehealth.com EXERCISE AT ALTITUDE Dr. Chris reports in more detail on the findings of Dr. Sylvia Ulrich's presentation at the Hypoxia conference in Lake Louise, Canada this past winter "... an international research team [conducted] tests on residents of the Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan, 2500-3500 m (8,200 to 11,482 feet)." "Using an exercise bike they measured ECG, pulmonary gas exchange and oxygen saturation in healthy highlanders. Participants’ average age was 48...

almost 2 years ago • 1 min read

Here are some pro tips from full-time residents of Summit County, Colorado, where there are several ski resorts that see millions of visitors every year. Navigating the Winter Wonderland: A Survival Guide for Driving the I-70 Corridor Ready to Read! Up next: Unveiling the Hidden Risks of Living at High Altitude on our Kidney Health, and What it Might Mean for Your Child highaltitudehealth.comUnsubscribe · Preferences

over 2 years ago • 1 min read

highaltitudehealth.com Do I have to move downhill?? Can I ever return to altitude if I've had difficulty acclimating in the past? Recurrence Risk of HAPE & HARPE "Another study looking at three cases of gradual re-ascent following an uncomplicated HAPE diagnosis showed no evidence of recurrence. The paper also suggested there may be some remodeling of the lung anatomy after an episode of HAPE that helps protect a patient from reoccurrence ..." Dr. Chris and her team at Ebert Family Clinic...

over 2 years ago • 1 min read
Four children crowd onto a swing chair next to an adult with a goatee in sunglasses and a cap, and everyone has s'mores in their hands and chocolate and marshmallow on their faces.

"Understanding the presentation of hypoxia in children at altitude can help ensure that healthcare providers are following a comprehensive approach with awareness of the overlapping symptoms of HAPE, pneumonia and asthma." Hypoxia in the Emergency Department: Preliminary Analysis of Data from the Highest Altitude Population in North America & Children With Hypoxia New blog! Dr. Chris and PA Student Erin Snyder provide "a graphic summary of 36 cases illustrating the clinical, social and...

over 2 years ago • 1 min read