Heart disease and high altitudes: Safe to travel?
You should gradually increase your activity at home to replicate the effort that you will need to perform activities at high altitudes. Your doctor should confirm that your heart rate and blood pressure are in a good range. If there is a question about the strain of your proposed vacation, you may need to have an exercise stress test. When you arrive at your destination, gradually ascend to high altitude. It may be helpful to spend a night or two at 6,000 feet prior to the final ascent. Adequate hydration is key since the hyperventilation makes you have to urinate more, and that may dehydrate you.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
