The Benefits of Oxygen at Altitude

Here’s to an incredible mountain stay, full of all the right kinds of breathtaking adventures

December 13, 2017

Larry Kutt,

Whether it’s your forever home or your seasonal getaway, living in the mountains is one of nature’s finest luxuries. Enjoying Aspen trees, snow-capped peaks, endless adventure right out your front door, and the rustic-cozy feel when you return from it—that’s the epitome of the mountain lifestyle. And while the views and experiences can be breathtaking—the altitude shouldn’t be.

Anyone who has experienced altitude sickness can tell you that it is not a pleasant way to enjoy a mountain stay—malaise, fatigue, insomnia, headaches and digestive upset are its unfriendly symptoms. The source of those ill feelings is the thinner air at high elevations, causing a lack of oxygen in the blood. Sounds like a quick way to ruin a mountain vacation!

Even if you’re lucky enough to avoid altitude sickness, mountain elevations can also leave you with trouble exercising and, yes, sleeping. In fact, according to altitude physiology experts, most people have difficulty sleeping in thin mountain air.

The reason is simple: oxygen levels in most mountain ski resort towns are about 30 percent lower than at sea level. That lack of oxygen triggers an unstable breathing pattern during sleep as the body struggles to restore normal oxygen levels. These breathing patterns—deep breaths followed by 5- to 15-second pauses—can occur even in the healthiest of people at altitudes of 6,000 feet and above.

That doesn’t sound like the restful sleep you’ll want before a day of hiking, mountain biking, hitting the slopes, or even a spa outing devoted to relaxation.

The answer might be simple: oxygenation. Studies have shown that altitude-related insomnia responds well to oxygenation systems employed in mountain homes. The technology restores normal oxygen levels and stimulates a lower altitude in your bedroom, and it can make all the difference in your quality of sleep.

On top of a better night’s rest and eliminating altitude sickness, oxygen at altitude can provide: