Altitude effects on blood pressure

Q: Does being in a high altitude cause blood pressure elevation, such as being in Utah when I’m from Atlanta?

A: When you go from a lower altitude to a higher altitude, it takes your body a few days to adjust.  The amount of oxygen in the air is lower at higher altitudes.  Until your body compensates by making more cells to deliver oxygen, your heart will beat faster and blood pressure will go up.  Simple activities require more effort because your body can’t deliver oxygen as quickly as normal.  People are advised to take it easy the first few days in a higher altitude to give their body time to adjust. Once your body has adjusted, your heart rate and blood pressure should return to usual levels at regular altitude.

The altitude in Atlanta is not as low as you might think.  Atlanta is 1050 feet above sea level.

FacebookLinkedIn
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (3 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)
Loading ... Loading ...