Decoded: Why Heart Function Is Reduced At High Altitude
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 IST
Do you experience reduced heart function at high altitudes?
Low amount of oxygen at mountain peaks decreases the volume of blood circulating around the body, and increases blood pressure in the lungs, resulting in reduced heart function at high altitudes, say researchers.
However, the researchers also found that while both these factors impact blood flow, it surprisingly does not impact the body's ability to exercise to its fullest extent.
The findings will be important for people who live, travel and exercise at high altitudes.
The research improves our understanding of how the human body adapts to high altitude areas and will help us make exploration and tourism of Earth's mountainous regions safer, and may also help facilitate exercise performance in a wide range of sporting events that take place at high altitude, said researchers led by Michael Stembridge, from the Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales, Britain
"We hope to apply the findings of this work to help improve the health and well-being of these populations by furthering our understanding of the condition and exploring therapeutic targets," he said.
Many people who visit high altitudes suffer from "Chronic Mountain Sickness", which occurs when there is lower oxygen pressure present. It results in shortness of breath, headache, and a fast heartbeat.
For the research, published in The Journal of Physiology, the team collected data of a small group on how the heart and pulmonary blood vessels adapt to life with less oxygen.
The researchers and participants conducted the study during two weeks at a remote research facility in California.
Furthermore, echocardiography was used to assess cardiac and pulmonary vascular function which is non-invasive and indirect.
Related Topics
Related News & Articles
An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.
Recently posted . 1K views . 1 min read
While the anti-smoking drug varenicline triples the chances of a person quitting smoking, patients were 34% more likely to report a cardiova...
Recently posted . 875 views . 2 min read
Are you a person with a slow walking pace? If affirmative, you would possibly be at the next risk of developing heart condition compared to those that walk steady o...
Recently posted . 959 views . 4 min read
Wheezing refers to breathing with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest and is caused by narrowed or abnormal airways.
Recently posted . 958 views . 1 min read
Just a single consultation of staying power schooling, such as walking on a treadmill, may additionally increase expression of genes worried in repairing broken DNA...
Recently posted . 950 views . 17 min read
Trending News & Articles
Lung cancer is usually not noticeable during the early stages. Most people are diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. According to Cancer.org, it is ...
Recently posted . 9K views . 2 min read
The health benefits of wood apple include [1] relief from constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, piles, respiratory problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. It also b...
Recently posted . 6K views . 2 min read
Bael, also known as the “Wood Apple”, is a species native to India. The bael tree is considered to be sacred to the Hindus. A famous drink known as sh...
Recently posted . 5K views . 2 min read
The scientists likewise shared how much liquor an individual can drink prior to facing overabundance risk challenges their wellbeing, contrasted with somebody who...
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
More in Food & Health
Indian til poli is made by stuffing sesame seed mixture in dough and frying it. Learn how to make Til Poli.
Ingredients:
<...
Recently posted. 889 views . 7 min read
Can’t stop drinking coffee? Here are some ways in which excess caffeine is harming your health.
Recently posted. 911 views . 0 min read
Given the ever-increasing obesity epidemic, researchers have discovered a promising developing drug that has been shown to selectively shrink excess fat by increasi...
Recently posted. 865 views . 1 min read
Recently posted . 996 views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views . 97 min read
Recently posted . 2K views . 69 min read
An American examine has discovered that migraine sufferers have higher tiers of oral micro organism that break down nitrates, which could cause complicatio...
Recently posted. 911 views . 12 min read
International Carrot Day was recently celebrated across the glove as a way of promoting the benefits and attributes of the gold old vegetable.
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read