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Disclaimer:
This site is provided for informational
purposes only. The information here is not intended to diagnose
or treat any condition, and should not replace the care and attention
of qualified medical personnel. Use the information on these pages
at your own risk, and, as with any information pertaining to health,
nutrition, mental health, or fitness, consult your physician before making any
changes that might affect your overall health.
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Allergies at High Altitudes
The dryer climate
and altered varieties of growing things means that for some
people, allergies get better, for others, they get worse.
There really isn't any way to know how you will be affected
ahead of time.
 Further
complicating the allergy picture is the fact that many people
seem to develop allergies over long periods of exposure, so
new allergies may not appear for months, or years.
Food
supplies in smaller towns at higher altitude may be different
also. That means that some allergies may diminish due to different
brands or availabilities, while others may appear for the
same reason. People who are sensitive to certain foods or
additives know that sometimes brand or type can make a lot
of difference in reactions.
There
tend to be fewer pollen related allergens at high altitudes,
and at extremely high altitudes, dust mites cannot survive
either. Dryer climates also reduce some types of mold spores.
High
altitude water supplies tend to be high in minerals, and water
may also be more alkaline than at lower altitudes, in some
places. The affect on individuals can vary widely, some people
improve, others struggle with the change.
While
wind blown pollens tend to be lower, the amount of wind in
general means that there is more dust, and more potential
for exposure from the pollens that do circulate. Sort of like
we say about snow - there isn't much of it, but nature makes
the most of it!
Allergy
related asthma may improve or worsen. High altitude tends
to make asthma more reactive anyway, so you could go either
way.
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High
Altitude Library
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Editorial Comments throughout this site written by Laura Wheeler (with occasional sarcastic remarks by her son, David). Laura is a 10 year resident of Medicine Bow, Wyoming, where the altitude is greater than the population. Medicine Bow is at 6200+ ft above sea level, and boasts a total of 297 residents from the last census. Laura is an experienced technical, health and family writer.
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