High altitude

Has anyone had trouble at high altitudes? I spent 4 days in Colorado at 9600 feet. 4 days later I am still experiencing some racing of my heart.

4 Comments

Altitude Issues

by Lurch - 2014-07-24 03:07:49

First, understand that I am a Florida boy. Been in the flat lands most of my life. The highest hill around here is the landfill!!

Several years ago, before the installation of my ICD, my wife and I visited the National Parks in Utah. We spent a few days at Arches, Zion and Bryce Canyon. I experienced shortness of breath and my wife suffered some altitude sickness.

If you are used to those elevations it can be somewhat difficult. And, it can take some time to re-adjust.

It is continues, I would recommend contacting your doctor.

Big Problem

by gleesue - 2014-07-24 04:07:33

My wife and I used to go to Colorado to climb 14ers. I had problems coming home to Ohio. The last 5 times We have come home from Colorado I have gone into an arrhythmia. Most time I had to get cardioverted. No problem going up, no problem climbing the mountains. Big problem coming down.

One time I didn't tell my wife until we landed. Then I just said to her, well you want to go home first or go right to the hospital. She didn't think it was very funny.

We don't go to Colorado anymore.

Jerry

After getting my CRT-D

by tanapuff - 2014-07-24 08:07:15

In February the cardiologist said l would not be able to go over 5000 ft elevation because I would have shortness of breath. My EFwas 30; but l find when we went to 6500 this summer l wasn't out of breath so l enjoyed the area for a couple of days climitizing before hiking and then we were careful to not overdo. Seems like you will have to check what altitudes you can be at. So far l have been ok.If its too high your body will let you know and you will need to get to lower altitudes. Before the pm we went to grand canyon and the elevation was 7800. I went into a-flutter. After we went to lower elevation, l was better. Boyd

No problems here

by barnet38 - 2014-07-25 11:07:42

I live in Michigan and have hiked higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada, Grand Canyon, and Sedona with no problems. I'm always careful to workout a few months in advance of a vacation in a higher altitude area. I also drink a LOT of water on the flight and during vacations in higher altitude, and eat salty snacks when hiking.

I feel like my heart speeds up more quickly when hiking in high elevations, so I just take more breaks and walk more slowly than I would in Michigan.

I understand that altitude sickness can be avoided by gradually moving to higher altitudes over a couple of days.

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Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.