Hopefully you won't feel short of breath. That is not pleasant.

As skiers, we often vacation at high altitude. What helps us: drinking lots of water, avoiding alcohol and caffeine. It is my understanding that it is the dehydrating effect of altitude that is challenging, and since both alcohol and caffeine are dehydrating, the combination can be problematic.

That's interesting as I've never felt any effects from high altitude but I am only that high when I'm skiing. I wonder if you have to be at that altitude for a long period for it to bother you. When I go skiing, the area I am staying in is probably around 5-6K feet so that's what I'm at all the time, but when skiing, I can be going up to around 10K feet at the top of the mountain and it's never bothered me that I noticed. Now in a couple weeks I'll be going to Aspen for a week where it is around 8K feet in the town so I'll find out, I usually stay in a place that is only 6300 ft at Lake Tahoe. I think Bogota is also 8K feet, isn't it?

I'm sure the pollution can't help, I believe you are supposed to be sure to stay hydrated. so be careful if you feel really sick as it can be dangerous http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001190/

did you go to the gold museum? See Botero? Go to those crazy steak restaurants outside of town? Aren't you a guatemala expert? I think we followed your advice in lake atitlan? Should I end every sentence with a question mark?

People react differently to altitude; some don't ever feel it and others experience any range of mild symptoms to some very severe ones. Headache, insomnia, the feeling that limbs way 150 lbs [I've had that] and upset stomach. It's no fun, for sure. As stated above, lots of water, little or no caffeine or alcohol help.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001190/

I just posted this on the Asia Forum. The issue of fluids is an interesting one:

(Asia Forum) We just completed the Inca Trail (9k - 14k feet) in Peru. We did a lot of reading, talked to our doctor and went to a travel medical clinic. In the end we took diamox and drank more than normal. But we did find it difficult to know how much to drink. It seems the advice is to drink plenty of fluid but not too much. So good luck.

http://www.theuiaa.org/medical_faq.html

I've read just about every book about climbing Mt. Everest (in anticipation of climbing Mt.Everest one day - in my next life )

The one thing they all say is that some are prone to high altitude sickness and others arent'. Maybe it's like sea sickness. They mentioned the best cure for high altitude sickness is to get to a lower elevation.

Nanabee I was reading something of yours the other day where you were asking about Everest base camp. Did you get there?

When we ski, the altitude isn't an issue unless we're sleeping (or, more accurately, not sleeping) at 9000'+. Places like Tahoe, Whistler, Park City, Steamboat are OK. Vail and Aspen aren't bad, although we do notice it a little. Summit County, Telluride, Taos, Winter Park--those we find more difficult. My husband experiences more symptoms than I do, and Diamox has made a big difference for him.

We met a guy today at our hotel who just came from Peru - after 5 days there, he had to go to the hospital and the doctor recommended 3 nights in the hospital (which he didn't want to do because he was on holiday). He was really in trouble. So I'm trying to drink lots of fluids, drink a minimum of alcohol (although I had a martini and a glass of wine tonight at dinner), and I'm trying not to be too hard on myself. Bogota is 8400+ feet above sea level, I believe.

Santamonica, I wish I was a Guatemala expert! We have been there though, and I'm sure I wrote a trip report so you might have seen it.

We went to the Museo de Botero today - his art makes me feel sleek and very slim! Also went to the Casa de Moneda. So much art and those museums are free! It's incredible. We'll go to the Museo de Oro tomorrow or Wednesday, I think. Our hotel is in La Candelaria, so it's easy enough to pop back to the hotel and rest up. I am loving Colombia!

When daughter was in Peru the locals suggested chewing coca leaves (yes, as in cocaine) - and it helped her 2 traveling companions. There did not seem to be any connection between size, weight, fitness level as to who felt the altitude and who did not.

mdtravelhealth.com illness prevention altitude illness good info, Acetazolamida from a farmacia what you need best preventive but you should have taken in it before ascent. Only cure is descent coca merely a repiratory stimulant.
You think Bogota 8000 ft is bad try El Alto La Paz 12000

Hang in there you will adjust usually within 48 hours.

I vote with the people who say that some have a problem and some don't. I moved to Colorado 25 years ago and live at 6,000 feet; I've never had a minutes problem. I love taking guests up Mt Evans at 14,000+ and can, even at my advanced age, still run around like a mountain old goat.

Many of my guests sleep on the way up and back down and complain of headaches, all signs of altitude sickness. If you have it, you need to take things slowly to adapt; it certainly is nothing to joke about. If, like me, you don't you can just enjoy taking massive breaths of superthin air and appreciate how much better it feels than breathing that thick stuff at sea level.

Of course another plus for me is that I can outendure people half my age at sea level and drink like a fish with no problems.