Symptoms at altitude

[Snowsnowysnow]

I was wondering if anyone's experienced this. I'm on holiday at a ski resort at 1700m altitude. Not long after arriving I had a carb heavy meal and after one hour, started to feel palpitations (not unusual for me), but this time they were harder and stronger. My heart rate went to 120bpm and I definitely felt more breathless. During this, I felt some skipped beats. After putting my feet up to rest (I was walking around after my meal), my HR eventually came down to 85bpm and I started to feel better. I still feel some breathlessness. My question is, is it normal to feel like this at thus altitude? I didn't think it was that high. Things to note is this happened an hour after arriving. I'm 43, going through peri. However I'm worried be a when I came to this same ski resort 2 years ago, I didn't have any of these issues.

Can anyone relate?

@SnowsnowysnowIt’s not very high! It’s only just over 5500 ft. I have issues at 12,000 plus ft. They are tiredness, headache and a bit listless. You need water and to take it steady at higher altitudes but 5,500 it’s unusual to notice much. Never had issues with heart. My initial reaction is walking after the meal. Maybe leave a bit of time to aclimatise and see how you go? I think it’s a bit early to worry but see a doctor if it persists.

I’ve always found altitude symptoms to be unpredictable. Sometimes I feel it when I haven’t before, I don’t think that’s unusual or worrying in itself. However, at 1700msl you aren’t very high - have you ever been higher? What’s the atmospheric pressure atm? There are other factors that could be in play.
You could try going down to the valley for a period of time and see if you feel better.

could you be pregnant? Only time I had altitude issues was when I was pregnant

@Booooooooom definitely not pregnant but did come on my period today.

After I posted my message, I felt fine for the rest of the day at the ski resort and didn't have any more symptoms like fast HR or skipped beats. Not sure what happened, I will keep an eye on it. I should have mentioned that I have anxiety and in some situations I do have panic attacks when my heart will race when I feel out of my comfort zone (ie in the mountains) so wonder whether it was anything to do with that.

@Snowsnowysnow In my view, yes. My DD has similar. If you are now ok, have a great holiday.

I don't think that's high enough for altitude sickness. I went up to 5600 in South America and I knew about it. I've never felt it before that and I've been regularly up to about 3000.

It really affects me even at that height so could be the altitude.

3000 ft? That’s Ben Nevis? Or 3000m? You will notice 3000m. 5500m is high and most people would notice that if coming from sea level, It’s definitely not altitude sickness at lower alpine heights for skiing. As an example, lakes in the Atacama desert are 14,000 ft and lake Titicaca is 13,000 ft. You can certainly be ill at those but a bit of coca tea sorts you out!

Skiing is tiring - have you been drinking more caffeinated drinks (and/or chocolate) than normal?