Your Body Almanac

Wyoming

High, windy, sun-blasted country with radon under nearly every county.

Wyoming is high country: most towns sit above 4,000 feet and many well above 6,000. The thin air, strong sun and fierce winter wind all ask something of your body, and nearly every county is in EPA's highest radon zone.

01

High altitude

Cheyenne sits around 6,000 feet and Laramie above 7,000, with mountain towns higher still. Thinner air means less oxygen per breath. Visitors and newcomers may get headaches and poor sleep at first, and sleeping above about 8,000 feet brings a real risk of altitude sickness.

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.
02

Strong sun at elevation and on snow

UV intensity rises about 6 percent for every kilometer of elevation, and snow reflects UV back at you. Clear, dry air adds more. You can burn on a winter day outdoors, and lifetime exposure adds to skin cancer and eye damage risk.

SourcesLearn About the UV Index (EPA)Sun Safety Tips (EPA)
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.
03

High radon statewide

Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas that seeps from soil and rock into homes and is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who don't smoke. EPA's map puts all but two Wyoming counties in Zone 1, its highest-risk category. Testing is cheap and the only way to know your home's level.

SourcesWyoming — EPA Map of Radon Zones (EPA)Radon (Wyoming Department of Health)Health risk of radon (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.
04

Wind chill and winter cold

Wyoming's strong winds push wind chills far below the air temperature, and exposed skin can freeze quickly on the coldest days. Hypothermia can set in during outdoor work or a breakdown on a long, empty highway.

SourcesWind Chill Chart (National Weather Service)Winter Weather (CDC)
Dress in layers for the coldAs neededWear several loose layers, a hat, gloves and waterproof insulated boots, and carry spares.

When to see a professional

Go down to lower elevation and get care for altitude symptoms that worsen with rest, or for confusion or breathlessness at rest. Get care for numb, hard or waxy-looking skin after cold exposure. Have any new or changing mole checked.