I have always considered myself in shape.  I play basketball regularly and I used to have a three mile walking regimen I'd do about 4-5 times a week.  But I have been at 6200 feet for a while now and it is making me feel like I have been away from physical activity for months the way my muscles are burning after relatively little exertion.  I'm getting tired and breathing heavy after doing almost no physical activity at all.  Maybe it has something to do with the altitude? 

I figured that there would be some side effects from the altitude, maybe this is the side effect I'm affected with...or at least that's what I tell myself. :)

Anyone else have some kind of reaction to altitude?

Hi Ronni :)

 

I have a question? Where are you with altitude and visiting bears? You don't have to tell me, I know that internet privacy is important. But! I thought that I was the only one with altitude coupled with Moosie's and Bear's. It almost sounds like you're standing here beside me except for those beach parts.

 

Anyway, this California transplant is now at 6950ft before I start climbing the hills. Yes! You are describing what some feel when changing altitudes. Down at sea-level you do not have to work as hard at breathing or using muscles... as you go up, you use more energy to do what you used to do easily before.

 

Eventually your body gets used to the new breathing and muscles routine.  "They" say that you only notice the change in altitude for a few days. I noticed it for months, especially while I was out hiking. I wasn't sick to my tummy or dizzy or anything alarming... I just had zero energy. It was kinda' like my body suddenly weighed more.

 

Here's a link to a nice Wikipedia article explaining different kinds of altitude sickness. If you think that you might fall into any of the bad symptoms listed, it's time to go have your favorite brand of health care professional check it out.

 

You probably already know this, but just in case you don't... Up here we dehydrate quicker. Maybe try adding more water to see if that helps some of your symptoms?

 

Hang in there! Catherine 

I live in Phoenix, however, since it is very hot there for the summer... I rented a cabin for the summer in a much higher elevation in Arizona.

 

When I 1st moved here I noticed that I became winded with minor hiking. I have been here for over a month now and no longer experience the changes that I did before :)

 

This transition took about 3 weeks.

Thank you both, it makes me feel better to know it happens to others.   Tahoe never did this to me when I was younger, but I was probably too young to notice, or remember anyway.

Is it really hot in Arizona right now, Steven?  I was there for Spring Training a couple months ago and it was hot then, it must be even hotter now?

It's funny to see how we are closely linked to our environement! I work in a kitchen in Alberta now (I'm from Montreal, Quebec) and it's hot beside those stoves and ovens. My coworkers and I feel completly exhausted all day from fighting against the heat... and I hear Alberta is much higher in altitude than Quebec. So maybe this is why I feel like a little old out of shape lady:)

 

Oh, and when I go to Banff, I feel a bit short of breath as I climb up the mountains. I hear it's really normal. Hope it gets better for you soon.