At what altitude do you start to feel the effects?

Question

I don't normally get headaches, but when I moved to Berne, Switzerland (altitude over 1500 feet) I had headaches for about six weeks. The same thing happened when I returned after 2 years in Sydney and again when I returned after 2 years in Hong Kong.

The whole point of my question was that I know altitude sickness officially starts much higher. When relations came over to Switzerland for a visit, my doctor advised me not to take my 8 month old niece up to 12000 metres. The kids we took with us (4 and 5 yr. olds were decidely cranky when we reached the top of the Schilthorn.

I still haven't found anyone who has understood the question. It's not about climbing mountains. It's about living at a higher altitude than one is used to. Let's put it this way at 1500 feet (not 15000ft) it takes longer to boil a soft-boiled egg. So altitude, even at lower levels has an effect. When do people start to feel that?

Answer 1

Unfortunately there isn't a hard-and-fast rule to this as altitude sickness affects different people at different heights. Some get it, some don't, although we can improve our tolerance through acclimatisation.

Answer 2

I regularly climb mountains in scotland over 4000ft with no effects. AMS (Acute mountain sickness), normally starts at altitudes of around 8000ft, though this limit can vary quite a bit from person to person depending on their fitness, acclimatisation, etc. The nasty effects to look out for tend to manifest at high altitudes WHEN ASCENDING RAPIDLY, normally up to . HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema) is a condition where your lungs start filling with fluid - leading to violent coughing, spasming and - if not treated and dropping altitude fast - death.
HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Oedema) is a condition where the brain swells, causing headaches, nausea, loss of consciousness, and death.
In both cases, descent from high altitude is the most important, initial treatment. However, both these affects are really only an issue during rapid ascents - if you ascend slowly and acclimatise you should be OK.

Answer 3

I live in Denver,mile high (5,280 ft),when I travel i normally don't have headaches,but different times of the year I do.
I start to feel the effects of altitude if I climb higher like when i went to Pikes Peak which is over 14,000 ft.
There are many places in the world with even greater altitudes though.
I think you meant 15,000 ft not 1500 ft.
Asprin ,rest ,and drink a lot of fluids especially water seems to help.

Answer 4

Altitude tolerance varies with the individual, but I would think 1500 feet is too low to have much of an effect.

You may have a reaction to the time change and it could be other climatic factors. As long as it goes away after you've adjusted you'll be fine.

Answer 5

IT IS DIFFERENT FOR PEOPLE
YOU MUST DRINK LS OF WATER AS THE RE-HYDRATION HELPS PREVENT THE HEADACHES
THE BODY WILL PRODUCE MORE PLATELETS IN THE BLOOD TO COMPENSATE IF NECESSARY SO YOU WILL ACCLIMATISE