elevation of 4700 feet

Elevation

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-11-04 21:37:01

I am in a similar situation and asked my cardiologist the same question at the last check-up.  I have an ICD and lower EF than you and heart damage from a prior heart attack.  The advice was to slowly acclimate to the elevation.  Too little oxygen can trigger tachycardia with the device potentially issuing a corrective anti-tachycardia pacing shock that I may or may not feel, or if needed, the full shock to stop an arrhythmia.

Recommend discussing with your doctor.

I have been to Sedona (before these heart issues) -- absolutely beautiful!  Enjoy!

to jimmy

by capecod - 2018-11-04 22:35:58

thanks!  i plan on calling my doc tomorrow!

No issues for me....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-11-04 23:44:07

I live in coastal North Carolina, just drove up to the blue ridge mountains, no issue.  Elevation around 5000ft near Mt. Pisgah, the device kept working as designed.  A little short of breath walking around, but thats the heart/lungs, not the device.

elevation

by Tracey_E - 2018-11-05 10:07:27

I also live at sea level. My parents and one daughter live at 6500 so I'm there regularly. My doc once suggested spending the night in the city (4500) when I arrive in order to acclimate but I've never been able to bring myself to do that when I have a comfy and free bed at mom's house 30 minutes away!  I don't do anything active until I've been there a day or two, and my stamina is never what it is at home even when I've been there as long as a month. Under 5-6000 isn't really anything to worry about, you may not even feel it. 

Be super careful about hydration. Between flying and the dry air it's easy to get dehydrated.

My profile picture was taken on a hiking trail outside Sedona. Wonderful town. 

Altitude and PM

by Selwyn - 2018-11-05 12:18:12

The first thing is to look at the flying :

At typical cruising altitudes in the range 11 000–12 200 m (36 000–40 000 feet), air pressure in the cabin is equivalent to the outside air pressure at 1800–2400 m (6000–8000 feet) above sea level.

In general if you can walk up a couple of flights of stairs without difficulty you will be OK flying. 

You certainly should discuss this with your cardiologist as your ejection fraction is compromised. 

I received my cardiologist's  permission to go to Tibet- no problems ( and that was with atrial fibrillation).  Before my PM I found night time difficult in Peru, Puno. ( 12, 560 feet) - having been to the toilet at night it took some time to catch my breath- not a pleasant sensation! I have been to 5000 meters with my PM, though that was getting to Tibet on the Chinese pressurised train. Nasal cannulae were provided in the sleeping compartment for those needing extra oxygen. 

I am off to the Atacama in a few days ( about 7800 feet). My ejection fraction is normal. I don't plan to be running Marathons at that altitude. Provided you are taking it easy, you perhaps don't think that the altitude of 6000 feet is what we cope with sitting down in a typical wide bodied jet aircraft.