Your Body Almanac

Colorado

Thin air, stronger sun, high-radon soil and summer smoke.

Living a mile or more above sea level changes how your body works. The air holds less oxygen, the sun's UV is stronger, and most Colorado counties have high radon potential. Wildfire smoke and ticks in the high country round out the list.

01

Radon across most of the state

EPA places 53 of Colorado's 64 counties in Zone 1, its highest radon-potential category, and none in the lowest zone. Radon is a radioactive gas from uranium in rock and soil, and it is the second leading cause of lung cancer. A home test is the only way to know your level.

SourcesEPA Map of Radon Zones and Supplemental Information (US EPA)Health Risk of Radon (US EPA)
Test your home for radonAs neededRadon is invisible and odorless, so a simple test is the only way to know your level. Fix it at 4 pCi/L or higher.
02

Thin air at altitude

Above about 8,000 feet, people who are not used to the altitude can get acute mountain sickness: headache, nausea, poor sleep and fatigue. It is most common when you go up fast, such as a trip from Denver to a ski town. Alcohol makes it worse and its hangover can be mistaken for it. Most people adjust over a few days.

SourcesHigh-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness (CDC Yellow Book)
Ease into high altitudeAs neededGive your body a day or two to adjust when you move to or visit high elevation, and go easy while it does. Drink water through the dayDailyKeep a water bottle within reach and sip through the day instead of waiting until you are thirsty.
03

Stronger sun at elevation

There is less atmosphere above you at altitude to filter UV, so you burn faster in Colorado than at sea level. Snow reflects UV back up at you on ski days, which is why goggle tans happen in February.

SourcesHigh-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness (CDC Yellow Book)Sun Safety (CDC)
Wear sunscreen every dayDailyPut broad-spectrum SPF 30+ on exposed skin each morning and reapply every two hours outdoors. Wear sun-protective clothingAs neededCover up with a wide-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses and tightly woven long sleeves when you are out in the sun. Check your skin for changesAs neededLook over your whole body on a regular schedule for new spots or moles that change, itch or bleed.
04

Wildfire smoke

Fires in Colorado and across the West can push smoke into the Front Range for days. Smoke particles irritate your lungs and can worsen asthma and heart disease.

SourcesHow Wildfire Smoke Affects Your Body (CDC)Wildfires and Smoke (AirNow)
Check the air qualityAs neededLook up your local Air Quality Index before outdoor work or exercise, and scale back when it is high. Wear a respirator for dust, fumes and smokeAs neededUse a properly fitted N95 or better respirator for dusty work and heavy wildfire smoke, and a cartridge respirator for gases and vapors.
05

Ticks in the high country

The Rocky Mountain wood tick lives at roughly 4,000 to 10,500 feet in the Rocky Mountain states. It can spread Colorado tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Spring and early summer hikes are peak tick time.

SourcesWhere Ticks Live (CDC)
Check for ticksAs neededAfter time in grass or woods, check your whole body, shower within two hours and dry your clothes on high heat. Use insect repellentAs neededUse an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin when mosquitoes or ticks are around.

When to see a professional

At altitude, trouble breathing at rest, confusion or stumbling are emergencies: get to lower elevation and medical care. See a doctor for fever or rash after a tick bite.