Travel query

[EastchurchTwentyOne]

we are travelling to Colorado in a couple of weeks and have just discovered problems with altitude and heart problems. Nothing about this mentioned in any of my rehab presentations or discusdions. Neither GP or rehab team will advise. I am not planning to hike or climb any mountains. Any advice from the community?

[devonian186]

The average height of Colorado is around 6800 feet. When In Switzerland I was affected at first by staying at an average height of 4500 feet as was my wife. I have a heart condition she doesn't.

I don't know your precise condition or how it is managed, but it is likely there will be an effect about staying at height, which may or may not be transient. Basically there will be much less oxygen at height.

If you have a medical team you ought to ask advice related to your specific condition.

[Barre01]

Be aware your plane is pressurised at a height of 8/10,000 feet.

[EastchurchTwentyOne in reply to Barre01]

Have flown since surgery and was fine. Alarmed by warnings when booking a couple of excursions by train in US . GP has forwarded a link to article in US medical journal which is helpful.

[fishonabike]

depending on the altitude of your location you are more likely to develop altitude sickness that someone without a heart or lung condition - your rehab team probably don't know much about it and you probably need to get more specific advice and information from someone with experience in the field

the usual recommendation is to start your holiday at the lowest elevation and make your way up slowly to allow you to work out if you are affected - return to lower altitude if you develop symptoms

this is because the lower air pressure makes it more difficult for your lungs to get enouh oxygen from the air around you - this can also happen in airplane cabins and leave you struggling for breath and/or feeling heart symptoms

[EastchurchTwentyOne in reply to fishonabike]

I’ve travelled since having the stents but did not consider altitude a problem until we were booking rail trips in Colorado. My GP couldn’t advise but sent me a link to some American research. Which if anyone is interested I could put on here. We have decided to keep to lower areas and spend a few days in New Mexico. I can’t find out whether my drugs need to be modified so may book a chat with pharmacist. Thanks for your advice. L

[devonian186 in reply to EastchurchTwentyOne]

That American research could be interesting if you could post it

[EastchurchTwentyOne in reply to devonian186]

Here it is. I hope people find it helpful.

newsroom.heart.org/news/adv...

[devonian186]

As you can see from the various comments, we are all expressing concerns about height. Any affect on you may be transient as you adjust to less oxygen, or it might be more severe.

Where are you actually staying and intending to travel to, as ascertaining the height of those places might be a useful starting point. Certainly you need proper medical advice that directly relates to the medical condition you have.

The flight is long and as has been noted, the cabin is pressurised at 8/10000 feet. For my first flight after my bypass I chose a short flight to Guernsey (25 mins) that barely took off before it landed so I could see what the effect would be. I have since been on 1.5 hour flights.

Would this be your first flight since your stents, in which case proper expert advice is needed regarding both the flight, but especially the longer term stay in Colorado.

[EastchurchTwentyOne in reply to devonian186]

We are visiting friends in Colorado Springs flying in to Denver after a week in Chicago. Then two weeks around the national parks and back to the Springs for July 4 then home. We have decided to tweak our itinerary to the lower areas and go on into New Mexico to Santa Fe. Last year I flew to Indonesia and a couple of trips to Malta and Madeira. No probs on any flight. It was only booking a couple of rail trips which had warnings for people with heart issues that alerted us to it. Thanks for your reply.

[Cocoadonkey]

hi there

My husband had a cardiac arrest two years ago and last year we went to Yosemite and hiked to over 10000 feet. He was absolutely fine. I needed be asthma inhaler !!!

It does say about altitude on the bhf website but you just need to be careful I think.

Have a great trip.

[EastchurchTwentyOne in reply to Cocoadonkey]

Thanks Cocoadonkey, really helpful. I’ll report back!