Altitude

[Kent2007]

I am planning to book a trip across S America, which includes visiting Lake Titicaca. It lies at 3800m/12,500ft above sea level. As a sufferer from PAF, any thoughts on the wisdom of this and what precautions to take?

[BobD Volunteer]

AF may be in your life but don't let it be all of your life. Check with your cardiologist if course but AF never stopped me doing what I wanted.

[Popepaul]

I travelled to Lake Titicaca a number of years ago. Very enjoyable but at that time did not have AF. I was acclimatised prior to the visit so I felt fine during my stay. That said I do remember that at night I would wake up with laboured breathing.We are all different as to how each of us reacts to altertude. I believe that the uncomfortable symptoms of acclimatisation begin at about 2500m. Imyself begin to feel unwell at about 3000m. At 5000m I used to stop every 20 steps. All of this raises the pulse and the rate of respiration, I assume that it raises the blood pressure.

I take the view that any decision to walk at altertude in the future would be likely to exacerbate my experience of afib.

We are of course all different.

Regards

[AAJJTt]

You should discuss your personal circumstances with your cardiologist.

I have been a life long climber/mountaineer and I’m still climbing. Post HA with a PAF diagnosis, I have a desire to go back to altitude (4000+ m) - risks: cardiovascular stimulation, ‘stickier’ blood, pro-arrhythmic, etc.

I discussed with my cardiologist and given my personal situation he was ok for me to do this. Goals are important and I won’t let Afib hold me back; he was in agreement. He also said recently I could resume scuba diving too; no cold water and 30 mtr limit.

I will make sure I take all the usual precautions- sleep, hydration, PiP plan.

[Kent2007 in reply to AAJJTt]

Thanks all. I do my best to avoid letting PAF rule. I still rock climb and hill walk but have not been above 3500m since my diagnosis in 2007.

[Bagrat]

Tongue in cheek. My husband lived in Peru as a child. He now has Permanent AF. His father was a manager on the railway. They lived in La Oroya about 3,700 m. The railway went much higher. He was warned not to run about when on a trip..........ah, you guessed. He came round after being given oxygen. When I asked his advice he said "don't run around".The Peru Rail journeys look interesting .perurail.com/

Discuss with your docs first and if good to go enjoy!!

[secondtry]

You don't say how frequent your episodes are; that may be a factor in deciding on the wisdom of your trip.

I think there is a fine line between not letting AF run your life and taking uneccesary risks that may be regretted; due to my experience in the Austrian Alps just walking up to a mountain restaurant at 2000m I would change your itinerary.

I have dealt with the disappointment of not returning to the Alps by taking up and extending new interests.

[CDreamer]

Anything over 2000m put me straight into Af which is why I had to, very reluctantly, give up skiing. I think it’s very individual but I would be very cautious and plan to acclimatise gradually and nothing too energetic.

I always had problems with altitude prior to AF and even in Denver suffered altitude sickness symptoms, before we even got going!

[hausjac]

Last year I went up the Jungfraujoch in Switzerland which was a similar height. No problem with heart but couldn't rush about and we were told by the guide to take it easy.

[2learn]

Hi, perhaps give yourself chance to acclimatise before, and take out good travel insurance just in case. Good luck