[Arterial hypertension due to altitude].
The behavior of blood pressure under hypoxic conditions depends on individual factors, altitude and duration of stay at altitude. While most humans are normotensive at higher altitudes, a few will react with moderate hypertension or hypotension. Excessive elevation of arterial blood pressure is not even to be expected below 4,000 m. Rather, several weeks' stay at higher altitude will decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest as well as during physical exertion. A high-altitude treatment for rehabilitation purposes at moderate altitude may be recommended for patients with cardio-circulatory disorders. Improvements can last several months even after returning to accustomed altitudes. Furthermore, endurance-trained hypertensive patients with pharmacologically controlled arterial blood pressure might be able to participate in mountain treks without additional health risk.
Domej
Wolfgang
W
Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Osterreich. wolfgang.domej@meduni-graz.at
Trapp
Michael
M
Miggitsch
Eva Maria
EM
Krakher
Tiziana
T
Riedlbauer
Rita
R
Roher
Peter
P
Schwaberger
Günther
G
D000531:Altitude; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009051:Mountaineering; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents