High elevations?

I'm going on a trip, and will be in elevations up to 7,000 feet (l live at sea level). Will I have any pacemaker problems or heart problems? I'm doing pretty well, but sometimes get what I call a hard heart-beating at night, and it's always associated with high blood pressure. During day, blood pressure is always quite low (100/60 up to 118/78). Just didn't want to worry about going into high elevations . . . any thoughts?

~Jean

5 Comments

HIGH ALTITUDE

by SMITTY - 2008-07-07 05:07:10

Hello Jean,

I can find no reference to high altitude causing a problem for our pacemakers. However, I did find that we shouldn't dive deeper than about 100' without checking with the manufacturer of our pacemaker. So altitude effect on your pacemaker is not a concern, but high altitude could be a concern, depending on what other heart problems you have.

If you will be flying to that destination the cabin of the plane will probably be pressurized enough to equal the pressure you will find at an altitude of 5K' to 8K'. So take note if you find yourself getting a little short of breath on the plane as it will probably happen at your destination. Also, when are at 7K' you may find that you get out of breath with any physical activity quicker than you expect. That will not mean your PM is not able to do its job but it is due to other breathing and heart problems you may have AND LIVING AT SEA LEVEL.

You say you live at sea level, so I will not be surprised if you do find SOB is a problem. I live at essentially (1K') sea level and when I venture into altitudes above about 4K', I'm sure to be SOB. However, as soon as I return to lower altitudes and rest a few minutes, things return to normal. And none of this has ever bothered my PM.

You also asked about the effects of a higher altitude on BP. The following are excerpts from an article on this subject. Maybe it will help.

"The effects of altitude on blood pressure: Altitudes less than 5 miles above sea level usually is not a problem. If possible make a gradual ascent (go up about 1k' or 2K' and stop for a few minutes) to the higher altitude to provide a safe reaction as it gives the system time to adjust.

For some oxygen easily passes through lung membranes into the blood at sea level. For some, high altitudes (lower air pressure) makes it more difficult for oxygen to enter one's vascular system (medically termed hypoxia).

Hypoxia creates an inability to do normal activities without fatigue. There is an increase risk of heart failure due to the added stress placed on lungs, heart and arteries at high altitude. But this depends on the individual. In other words, if you have a really sick heart, then you do increase your risk. On the other hand, if you have a relatively normal heart and have a PM just because you have a low heart rate, your risk is not increased appreciably.

And there is an increase in breathing and heart rate to as much as double even while resting. Pulse rate and blood pressure go up sharply as our hearts pump harder to get more oxygen to the cells. These are stressful changes, especially for people with weak hearts."

But don't worry about all these things, go enjoy your trip.

Smitty

High elevations 6,000 to 8,600 ft.

by ccmoore - 2008-07-07 05:07:49

I concur with Smitty and

Jean, you didn’t say how long you have had your PM or how the recovery is doing or your physical condition.

These comments are worth exactly what you pay for them. Given that, here is my recent experience.
I am 62, ICD implant date was 17 may 2008, so just over 7 weeks since implant. I think that my recovery has been going well and I still get winded going up hill. A flight of stairs has been OK most of the time.
I live in the Sierra Foothills, 1,500 ft elevation.

The weekend before the 4th of July, we went to the Sierras elevation 6,000 ft for an overnight camping trip. We took a tent trailer and the campground was pretty flat. I did OK walking around the campground and walked down to the lake to fish and around the shoreline without too much problem. Returning from fishing I had to go up the boat ramp which was about 50-60 yards and about 40 feet up. I surprised myself and did OK with only one stop. Did the same thing the next day.

Last weekend [the 4th of July] we went back to the Sierras for an overnight [5 & 6 July] camp at 7,800 ft. This time we car camped using tents. The only spot we could get was a walk-in so we took it. I got a little winded but not too bad carrying gear in and out for the camp about 50 yards with a slight incline. I took a few short walks downstream and got a little winded coming back up hill to camp.

I had what I thought were some hard heart beats while laying in a hammock, but they went away after sitting up; so I think it was probably the way I was laying in the hammock.

The next morning, I went about ¾ mile downstream with my son and again got winded and had to rest several times going back to camp. I think that I did better the previous weekend.

After we broke camp, we went to a lake at elevation 8,600 ft. Had lunch and did a little fishing at the lake, pretty level and no problem. But I didn’t try to keep up with that fool who was hiking up the side of the mountain to be able to ski down a snow patch to be able to say that he skied on the 6th of July.

After we got home, I got winded just going up one story of stairs, which had not happened for a good 4 weeks. I compared the two weekends and I think that I had let myself become dehydrated this last weekend in comparison to the weekend before. So I watered up and drank Gatorade and this morning I went up the stairs at home without getting winded.

From your post, it sounds like this might be your first visit to high country since the implant, so my advice would be:

•Take it slow and easy.
•As you travel up to the mountains, get out of the car and walk around each time you stop.
•When you get to your location, walk around on level ground if possible to get acclimated.
•Listen to your body, if it says rest them rest. This is not the time to be the leader of the pack. You will probably be a long way from medical help.
•Stay hydrated, I think that it is more important now than before a pacemaker.
•And as I tell my kids, tell someone where you are going and about what time you will be back, so that they will know what direction to send the search party. Hate to send the search party north when you went south.

PSA [Public Service Announcement} this last item is probably the most important for anyone going into the wilds or even the semi-wilds. That guy in Colorado probably wouldn’t have had to cut off his arm if he had just told someone where he was going and for how long.

Enjoy the scenery and your friends.

Later,
Charlie

Thanks for comments!

by jeanhowser - 2008-07-07 07:07:19

Thank you all for your comments! I got my PM in August of 2007, and doing pretty good after my last "adjustments" last month. Had been feeling tired, but the tech did something, and now instead of heart rate staying at 70 or 72 (it's set at 70), my heart rate goes up to 90-100 when I'm doing my brisk walking, and I feel great, with MUCH more energy. I walk 4 miles each morning, and am finally back to pre-PM energy . . . yay! Still have occasional arrhythmias and "hard" heartbeats, and of course worry when that happens, but generally doing well. Oh, and I'm 70. Shall go on my trip and not worry! Thanks again! ~Jean

Trip

by SMITTY - 2008-07-07 11:07:39

Jean,

I will bet they activated the "rate response" feature on your pacemaker. That is something that monitors our heart and if it thinks that due to our activity our hear rate should be fasted, it will speed up the rate. I have no idea just how it can do this, but it is a great feature for those of us that have a heart that tends to be a little lazy sometimes. Also, I'm sure you will find walking at 7K' more physically demanding and that rate response may be really helpful.

Good luck,

Smitty

Pacer at altitude

by ElectricFrank - 2008-07-08 12:07:24

Jean,
A lot will depend on what kind of shape you are in. As for the pacemaker there is really nothing about it that is affected by altitude.
I live at 2500' and have experienced altitudes as high as 13,200' without any problem other than the the usual having to take a breathing stop a bit more often. I just returned from camping for 2 weeks at 7500' and hardly noticed it. I hiked 3 miles each day with an altitude gain of 500'. I am 78yrs and I paced myself to keep my HR under 130 on the climbs. The 3 miles took about 45 minutes. My only problem is that I overdid it and have a sore knee. My cardiovascular system is working so good I'm having to get my muscles back in shape.

frank

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