Altitude and the heart: Is going high safe for your cardiac patient?

Our aging population combined with the ease of travel and the interest in high altitude recreation pursuits exposes more patients to the acute physiologic effects of high altitude and lower oxygen availability. Acute exposure to high altitude is associated with significant alterations to the cardiovascular system. These may be important in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease who are not able to compensate to such physiologic changes. Exacerbating factors pertinent to patients with cardiovascular disease include acute hypoxia, increased myocardial work, increased epinephrine release, and increased pulmonary artery pressures. This review summarizes the physiology and clinical evidence regarding acute altitude exposure on the cardiopulmonary system with practical recommendations to address the question: “Is it safe for me to ski in the Rockies or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?”