My husband & I will be staying in Wengen for a few days in September.
Has anyone experienced symptoms of dizziness or shortness of breath due to the high altitude?
Thanks & any advice would be appreciated.

Drink a lot of water, avoid alcohol, go to sleep early. Some folks I know advocate moderate exercise as soon as you arrive at high altitudes, I guess to get the oxygen flowing to the brain. Whatever you do to avoid altitude sickness make sure you are very very hydrated to reduce the symptoms.

Wengen is not at a particularly high altitude (1274 m, or 4180 ft). Although individuals vary in their susceptibility to altitude sickness you would have to be very very sensitive indeed to experience any problems. I've been there several times with a number of different individuals and nobody ever had any trouble.

I've never experienced it but that really has no bearing on the fact that it can happen. Remember that the Alps are not as high in altitude as the Rockies, so you're a bit better off in that respect.

Always the best advise is to take it easy, drink plenty of water, and restrain from drinking alcohol. It usually isn't a serious problem unless other health factors are involved.

Advise??? I know better than that. It's advice.

Wengen is not that high. It is only about 4200 feet, 1,000 vertical feet lower than Denver.

If you experience shortness of breath, it is not the altitude.

I am 75 and was higher than that many times last month in that same area. I just made sure I had my blood pressure medicine in me.

First (Gondola station.) is a little higher at 7,600 feet, but neither I nor my septuagenarian companion had any difficulties.

I suppose if I tried to run at that altitude I would feel the effects, but that is one activity I need to avoid anywhere.

I was worried about altitude sickness/breathlessness when we went last year, as I have had lung surgery and have reduced lung capacity. I just took it slowly until I realized that it didn't bother me at all. But do use caution as the others have advised.

Altitude sickness is a random thing. I have suffered it at a relatively low altitude, and then been much higher and had no problems.

I ski every winter, and always carry a salbutamol inhaler with me as I can get quite short of breath at the top of the mountains, but we are always staying quite a bit lower. I also carry paracetamol in case I get a headache but I'm not usually that high up for any length of time. I avoid alcohol during the day but do enjoy wine (in moderation) in the evenings.

I also take a homeopathic remedy with me called Coca, and take it twice a day. This is derived from the coca plant of South America. Traditional medical considered coca particularly effective against altitude sickness. Whether it really works or is just a placebo effect I couldn't say, but I haven't suffered from that appalling dizziness since I started using it! But don't take my word for it, go and see a homeopath for up-to-date advice.

thanks so much for all the advice.
Can't wait to visit Switzerland.
Has anyone had trouble with the altitude in JungFrau?
Fleuve

To deal with altitude issues when skiing, we avoid alcohol and caffeine for the first few days, drink lots of water, and take an aspirin every morning and every evening to improve oxygenation.

Not sure what you mean by "in Jungfrau." The entire area that includes Wengen, Grindelwald, and Murren is referred to as the Jungfrau Region, or Berner Oberland, and it includes a wide variety of elevations. The highest elevation is the summit of the Jungfrau at 13,642 ft, but you won't be going there. The highest elevation you're likely to reach is the end of the train line up through the Eiger, a station known as the Jungfraujoch, at 11,333 ft, or at Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant above Murren, at 9,748 ft. Because your stay at either will likely be relatively brief you probably won't have any serious problem with altitude sickness, though you may well notice a little shortness of breath.

I've paid more than a little attention to this over the years because I spend a great deal of time at altitude, skiing and climbing, and I'm unfortunately somewhat susceptible to altitude sickness. I find that it takes several hours over about 7,000 ft before I begin to experience any symptoms, and usually I need to stay overnight at that altitude or above for it to really be noticeable. Overnighting above about 10,000 ft is very uncomfortable for me, but anything less than that is simply annoying.

Unless you know you have some sort of issue with altitude my recommendation would be to take the sensible precautions that others have mentioned, but otherwise don't worry about it and enjoy your time in the Alps.

flyfish,
I guess I was referring to the 11,333ft elevation of Jungfrau.
Thanks for everyone's help. I am sure i will be fine.

Altitude sickness depends on a couple of things:

Overall health - do you have any breathing problems?

Smoking - won't help?

Actual altitude - Wengen isn't high enough that it should bother anyone healthy

We starteed to notice a difference at 7-8,000 feet - and then only if doing something. (MY brother ran 1/2 block to a store to pick up film and was gasping when he go there - even though he was young and fit - but NYC is sea level.)

At the top of the Jungfrau - 12,000+ feet - we both noticed it immediately we stood up - felt a little light headed/disoriented. But - we had something to eat and felt, better - and spent a couple of hours seeing the sights - walking - not running. (But if you have health issues this might well be too much.)

But - we didn't feel breathless or nauseated. If you do either I think it's a sign to head right back down the mountain.