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Is It Safe To Visit Places With High Altitude With History Of Heart Attack?
Question: I am going to visit my son near XXXXXXX XXXXXXX this summer. I had a heart attack about 10 years ago, but no problems since. Should I have any concerns about the altitude?
Brief Answer:
Get an echocardiography done first.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Our heart pumps the blood to the lungs where it gets oxygenated. After returning back to the heart, it is pumped to the rest of the body. This cycle continues on and on. So, there are two determinants here 1) The capacity of the heart to pump blood 2) The oxygenation in the lungs.
In case of high altitude, the air pressure is lower and so the pressure of oxygenation of blood is lower. Hence, in case of a person with cardiac compromise it may create trouble. Before you decide to go there, the simple step I would suggest is to get an echocardiography done to evaluate the ejection fraction of the heart. If that is normal, I do not think that you would have any trouble.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Get an echocardiography done first.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Our heart pumps the blood to the lungs where it gets oxygenated. After returning back to the heart, it is pumped to the rest of the body. This cycle continues on and on. So, there are two determinants here 1) The capacity of the heart to pump blood 2) The oxygenation in the lungs.
In case of high altitude, the air pressure is lower and so the pressure of oxygenation of blood is lower. Hence, in case of a person with cardiac compromise it may create trouble. Before you decide to go there, the simple step I would suggest is to get an echocardiography done to evaluate the ejection fraction of the heart. If that is normal, I do not think that you would have any trouble.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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