Altitude Sickness Update

[Editors Note: Were including both the initial inquiry from Mr. Acree and his report on the beneficial results he obtained using Dr. Deans protocol.]Dear Dr. Dean Is there anything you recommend to prevent or treat altitude sickness i.e. minimizing the adjustment to high altitudes?Thanks Michael A. Dear Dr. Dean Im pleased to provide the follow-up report you requested on your recommendations regarding altitude sickness.I had learned in August with only a few days notice that I would have to be traveling to Lima on business. Figuring that this would probably be my only trip ever to Peru I wanted to hike the 28-km Inca Trail to Machu Picchu; but my schedule allowed only one day in Cuzco (at 11 000) for altitude adjustment before hiking. There wasnt time for ordering piracetam from IAS but Sundance very helpfully informed me that pyroglutamic acid is similar in structure and function; and the VRP employee who took my order that day also very helpfully made sure that it went out the same afternoon so I received it before I left.My flight to Dallas was delayed and I was rerouted through Miami arriving in Lima at 4 a.m. (2 a.m. San Francisco time). I got to my hotel at 6 and had to get up at 8 to work a 13-hour day preparing a statistical report. Although Lima is at sea level it seemed like a good occasion for trying out anything that would improve brain efficiency!I took pyroglutamic acid and CDP-choline along with lipoic acid vinpocetine ginkgo biloba and 150 mg CoQ10. I was nevertheless quite startled to find that I felt no trace of fatigue all day long!The second day of the Inca Trail is the difficult one with a climb from about 9000 to about 14 000. About halfway up I ran out of steam and had difficulty making it to the top (carrying only about a 25-pound pack). At 12 000 frankly I got worn out just rolling over in bed! But in retrospect I suspect I might have had much less difficulty had I kept taking the pyroglutamic acid and CDP-choline. I took two or three of each over the course of the morning (plus 300 mg CoQ10 400 mg lipoic acid vinpocetine and ginkgo biloba) but wasnt sure about the maximum safe dosage; and I think the effects may have just worn off. These amounts sufficed in any case for the remaining two days of the hike. Its worth adding that I have a history of susceptibility to lightheadedness and fainting and would have expected to have very significant problems with such strenuous exertion at those altitudes. I never had any such trouble nor any other symptom of altitude sickness or adjustment difficulty. A few times since my return Ive faced stressful days with too little sleep but have consistently found that a pyroglutamic acid plus CDP-choline leaves me fresh and alert.So all in all Im most grateful for your timely and helpful advice.Sincerely M. Acree

Dear Michael As you know altitude sickness involves the period of days to weeks that it takes the bodies of low-landers like me (I live in Florida) to adapt to higher altitudes (and lower air pressure) as we have in Carson City NV (approximately 5 000 feet) where I spend most of the rest of my time. Altitude sickness causes fatigue shortness of breath headaches and mental confusion. Airline flights cause mild cases in many people. Airlines are pressurized to about 8 000 altitude. We put military pilots on 100 percent oxygen at 10 000 feet. Everyone in the aircraft who is not acclimated to altitude is probably suffering from borderline hypoxia (inadequate oxygenation of the blood). Thats why so many people become fatigued when they fly and find it so easy to fall asleep. I have found that maintaining fairly good physical condition can help to minimize the problem. Rapid relief (within minutes to hours) can often be obtained by substances like the nootropics (piracetam aniracetam or pramiracetam). Nootropics reduce oxygen requirements of the brain. These substances can be obtained by contacting IAS (www.anti-aging-systems.com). Other substances that also help include: vinpocetine (to enhance glucose and oxygen utilization in the brain) and Ginkgo biloba (to act as a cerebral and coronary vasodilator and also enhance brain metabolism). I would also recommend increasing lipoic acid (400 mg daily) and coQ10 (150-300 mg daily). This program works well for most cases of altitude sickness and also seems to minimize or eliminate airline-induced altitude sickness as well. I hope these suggestions are helpful. Let me know how you do. Ward Dean MD Dear Mr. Acree Thanks for the follow-up. Glad you enjoyed your trip.Ward Dean MD