Decoded: Why Heart Function Is Reduced At High Altitude
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
In the next decade or so, a lot of individuals all over the world needing organ donors would die, because there is a shortage. Unless something miraculous turns u...
Recently posted . 806 views . 3 min read
The risk of heart attack - or myocardial infarction - is particularly acute in older adults, said the report in the New England of Medicine.
Recently posted . 603 views . 1 min read
Everyone knows that stress is bad for your heart. But one kind of stress in particular is associated with a 13-times higher risk of heart attack, according to a new...
Recently posted . 695 views . 2 min read
Survivors of childhood cancer may soon have a new wireless device to monitor possible heart dysfunction.
Recently posted . 637 views . 1 min read
Did you know that one of the leaders in global fatalities is heart attack? Studies have proven that approximately half a million people in the US alone are hit by...
Recently posted . 796 views . 2 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 . 6K 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 . 4K 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 . 4K views . 2 min read
Do you know what milia are? Milia is a skin condition which causes the appearance of small white hard bumps on the skin which usually appear on the face, neck or ch...
Recently posted . 3K views . 2 min read
More in Food & Health
You know that crunchy and watery stick veggie you can tolerate only when eaten with dips. Well, that exact same vegetable may in fact be the most unappreciated food...
Recently posted. 716 views . 2 min read
A single cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine. It acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system and works to block the effects of adenosine -- a che...
Recently posted. 743 views . 1 min read
In every second household, you can find a money plant blooming in its glory. Money plant is considered as a lucky plant which brings wealth, health, prosperity an...
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
Recently posted . 502 views
Recently posted . 802 views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views . 480 min read
Recently posted . 1K views . 67 min read
So does cabbage induce weight loss? Here's your answer.
Recently posted. 814 views . 0 min read
When you are pregnant, you should no longer only think about yourself when you are consuming certain foods. Your unborn baby also consumes everything that you do an...
Recently posted. 740 views . 2 min read