Blood Pressure Changes While Hiking at Moderate Altitudes: A Prospective Cohort Study

Ky B. Stoltzfus, David Naylor, Tessa Cattermole, Arthur Ankeney, Rebecca Mount, Rong Chang and Cheryl A. Gibson
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Ky B. Stoltzfus: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, KS 66160, USA
David Naylor: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, KS 66160, USA
Tessa Cattermole: Department of Surgery, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT 05401, USA
Arthur Ankeney: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of South Carolina, Prisma Health Richland, Columbia, SC 29203, USA
Rebecca Mount: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, KS 66160, USA
Rong Chang: Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Cheryl A. Gibson: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, KS 66160, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: Recreational hiking in the mountains is a common activity, whether for a single day or for several days in a row. We sought to measure blood pressure (BP) response during a 10-day trek at moderate-altitude elevation (6500–13,000 feet) and observe for uncontrolled hypertension and/or adverse cardiovascular outcomes. A total of 1279 adult participants completed an observational study of resting BP during a 10-day trek in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Following initial recruitment, participants were issued a trail data card to record BP measurements at day 0 (basecamp), day 3, day 6 and day 9. BP was measured using a sphygmomanometer and auscultation. Demographic data, height, weight, home altitude, daily water and sports drink intake, existence of pre-arrival hypertension and BP medication class were also recorded. We observed a rise in mean blood pressure for the cohort during all exposures to moderate altitudes. The increases were greatest for individuals with pre-existing hypertension and/or obesity. There were no observed life-threatening cardiovascular events for participants. We conclude that for individuals with a modestly controlled blood pressure of 160/95 mmHg, hiking at a moderate altitude is a safe activity.

Keywords: hypertension; hiking; recreation; altitude; cardiovascular; mountaineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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