Altitude Sickness in Colorado: My Experience and What I Learned
I’m used to life at sea level in Virginia Beach, so when I traveled to Colorado and found myself at nearly 10,000 feet, my body wasn’t exactly prepared. The scenery was stunning—towering peaks, crisp mountain air, endless blue skies—but behind the beauty was a very real challenge: altitude sickness. By the second day, I was feeling it. The dull headache set in first, followed by waves of exhaustion and shortness of breath. Climbing a set of stairs felt like running a marathon, and even a short walk left me winded. It wasn’t the kind of tiredness you can shake off with coffee or a nap—it was a deep, heavy fatigue that made every activity more difficult than expected. Crystal Mill My Attempt at Oxygen Therapy In some Colorado towns, oxygen therapy is a common service, and I decided to give it a try. Hooked up to a tank, I breathed in the concentrated oxygen for about 20 minutes. The results were almost immediate—my headache lifted, I felt more alert, and even walking felt easier....