Question
I can't see that this has ever been brought up and figure that since quite a few drivers are required to travel in the Western region, they may be at higher risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (or AMS).
I infrequently had runs between Denver & Las Vegas, and seemed to have mild symptoms of Altitude sickness, but they went away quickly after descending into lower altitudes. Since the mountain west of Denver CO is above 11,000', it may be likely that drivers could suffer the symptoms as well. Any advice on this Nurse?
Erik.
My price to drive OTR: $77,500 annually after taxes. The carrier must sign a binding contract. No work will be performed without being properly compensated.
Answer
This is not one I have heard a lot about but....
My guess would be that the illness you encounter is caused by the change in ear pressure.
The inner ear controls your vertigo (balance). When the inner ear is disturbed in any way, it can cause symptoms similar to motion sickness.
When the pressure in your ears change this affects the inner ear as well. Now some tolerate this better than others.
Most often, dizziness and nausea are the most prevalent symptoms.
My suggestions would be to try some of the over the counter motion sickness aids (Choose the non-drowsy ones) and chew gum while cruising the higher altitudes. Chewing gum helps some people releive the ear pressure changes.
I personally suffer from this malady. When on a curvy elevated road, I MUST be in the front seat and looking at the road. I can not read in a moving vehicle and when I go to amusement parks, I can't ride anything that goes in circles. It all boils down to disturbances in my inner ear and balance.
Hope this helps
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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Answer
Well nurse red you are right as some folks are more sensitive to disturbances in the vestibular system, this will cause the motion sickness like symptoms but higher altitudes have another effect........ there just is not as much oxygen at higher altitudes to breath this will also cause dizzyness shortness, of breath especially if you work hard unloading a truck, headaches from mild to severe and last but not least drowsiness, how do I know,,,, used to live in the mountains no I live on the coast thanks to the Coast Guard(not much to Guard in the mountians) everytime i visit family i gat a headache and will fall aslepp standing up at only 3000 to 5000 ft...............
Harold
Machinery technician
NREMT
Truckdriver
Hazmat response technician
(too bad they dont pay for all that)
You dont get paid to Coast you get paid to Guard
texas@msn.comhwhitt@truckmail.com
hwhitt@d11.uscg.mil
You have to go out....but you Don't have to come back.
Answer
I worked on Copper Mountian Ski Resort for 3 years. The base elevation at the lodges is 9,600 feet above sea level. Whe you got off the chair lift at the top of the mountian "E Run Chair Lift" the elevation is 11,960. A lot of our quests complained of headaches or a lack of energy. Each year I worked at Copper I was there 9 months & 3 months back in Indy for Vacation. For me I never had any problems with the high altitude. I had no colds or 1 single headache while on the mountian. Now for the bad news. I drove home each summer for vacation. It wasn't a week before I caught a bad cold & suffered from headaches now & then. Upon returning to Copper my health seemed to improve. Go figure. My friend & boss Jim suffered the same as I, when he returned to Wisconson in the summer. I used to ref & play Hockey in Vail, 20 miles down the road at the Rink by the Hospital. A lot of the players were Ski Patrol or Doctors from next door. I have been in A lot of Rinks & this was the only one that had Oxygen bottles on the Players bench. You can bet they were used a lot by the Players & Ref's. It usually took about 2 weeks after returning to the Mountian to not notice the shortness of breath.