Mother's Day is coming up and CU's graduation, there will be folks from out of town who may not live at altitude. For those of us lucky enough to be here in Boulder, Colorado the elevation is nearly 5500 ft here. Altitude affects everyone differently.
Last year I did chair massage for the month of June down on the Pearl St Mall. The strong euro had brought many sightseers from overseas, strolling pass they would curiously view the massage chair. It was a quite a hot day. A family came by, the women left the man too have a 15 minute massage and they went shopping. I had him fill out a brief chair massage intake form. As he got seated I noticed he seemed to be breathing laboriously. He complained of the flight being late, not sleeping, and a series of other aggravations. He mentioned feeling as though he had indigestion a few minutes into the massage. Now that got my attention, as often a heart attack will seem like that. As I worked on his neck he lifted his head, his eyes rolled, and he dropped back into the face cradle. I called his name, asking if he could hear me and he remained unresponsive. I called 911 and the ambulance arrived; his blood pressure had dropped quickly and he had passed out. He ended up here in hospital for a couple days.
There were many factors at work that day, the heat, the altitude, his age, and prior health concerns were all considerations. As a professional massage therapist one should not only carry liability insurance, but be observant and check in with your client ensuring they have a good experience.
Many people arrive in our 'mile high environment' and may not be fit or understand implications of altitude sickness and adjustment. Immediate effects include hyperventilation, fluid loss, increase in heart rate, and stroke volume. It is important to be aware of these symptoms and take measures to assist in acclimatization. You may only be here for a short time but staying hydrated will make the biggest difference to how you feel.
Enjoy Boulder!
