Impact of Altitude on Cardiopulmonary and Right Ventricular Hemodynamics During Exercise

Abstract

Conveniences of modern travel allow for an increasing number of people to sojourn to mountainous, high-altitude locations for work and/or pleasure. Travel to these types of locations places unique stressors on the human body and, more specifically, the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems since ambient oxygen content declines at altitude. The physiologic response to hypoxia is a highly dynamic process that begins immediately and continues to evolve from acute (hours to days) to chronic (days to weeks) time periods. Furthermore, sojourns to hypoxic locations frequently involve exercise, which places additional strain on the heart and lungs. The aim of this review is to emphasize clinically relevant physiologic responses that occur, both acutely and chronically, after travel to high-altitude locations.