Back to Search
Start Over
Blood Pressure Changes While Hiking at Moderate Altitudes: A Prospective Cohort Study
- Source :
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 17, Iss 7978, p 7978 (2020), Volume 17, Issue 21
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Recreational hiking in the mountains is a common activity, whether for a single day or for several days in a row. We sought to measure blood pressure (BP) response during a 10-day trek at moderate-altitude elevation (6500&ndash<br />13,000 feet) and observe for uncontrolled hypertension and/or adverse cardiovascular outcomes. A total of 1279 adult participants completed an observational study of resting BP during a 10-day trek in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Following initial recruitment, participants were issued a trail data card to record BP measurements at day 0 (basecamp), day 3, day 6 and day 9. BP was measured using a sphygmomanometer and auscultation. Demographic data, height, weight, home altitude, daily water and sports drink intake, existence of pre-arrival hypertension and BP medication class were also recorded. We observed a rise in mean blood pressure for the cohort during all exposures to moderate altitudes. The increases were greatest for individuals with pre-existing hypertension and/or obesity. There were no observed life-threatening cardiovascular events for participants. We conclude that for individuals with a modestly controlled blood pressure of 160/95 mmHg, hiking at a moderate altitude is a safe activity.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
hypertension
mountaineering
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Acclimatization
lcsh:Medicine
Sphygmomanometer
Blood Pressure
030204 cardiovascular system & hematology
Article
Cohort Studies
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Altitude
Internal medicine
Medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Prospective Studies
Prospective cohort study
Aged
business.industry
cardiovascular
lcsh:R
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
hiking
recreation
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Obesity
Sports drink
Blood pressure
Mean blood pressure
Cohort
Female
business
human activities
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16604601
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 21
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International journal of environmental research and public health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....c596b497650e96500c88d4a104748bc7