High Elevation free diving health concern

[Freddy Llamas]

I was free diving at big bear lake which is at 6,752 ft, after the dive I traveled back down to my home town which is at sea level. The very next day i had a headache through out the day as well as neck pain. Is it something i should be concerned about?

 

[PJB]

I was free diving at big bear lake which is at 6,752 ft, after the dive I traveled back down to my home town which is at sea level. The very next day i had a headache through out the day as well as neck pain. Is it something i should be concerned about?

Hi Freddy. Don't be too concerned - absent any pre-existing conditions you may have the switch from low to higher elevation (or the reverse) isn't a problem. Well, not for training or recreational effort anyway; absolute maximum effort is another story - for well known partial gas pressure-related reasons. I live at 6000ft, do all my training here and friends of mine have dived at far higher elevations without issues. Again, absent any other factors, your symptoms were likely triggered by higher than normal, partial pressure-related hypercapnic/CO2 effects. Go back soon and you'll likely find that it won't recur as severeLy, then disappear. Safe diving. P