SHORT
COMMUNICATION
Cardiovascular
Changes During Sudden Ascent in a Cable Cabin to
the Moderate Altitude
Š.
KUJANÍK, M. SNINČÁK1, K. GALAJDOVÁ, K. RACKOVÁ
Department
of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Šafárik
University and 1Department of Internal Medicine,
Military Aviation Hospital, Košice, Slovak
Republic
Received
June 18, 1999
Accepted February 21, 2000
Summary
Our
aim was to test the hypothesis that the
occurrence of extrasystoles in higher decennia is
proportional to the altitude. The occurrence of supraventricular (SVPB) and ventricular (VEB)
extrasystoles, values of systolic and diastolic
blood pressure and the heart rate were studied in
20 healthy elderly men (50-64 years) during cable
cabin transportation to a moderate altitude.
These values were measured in stations located at
898 m, 1764 m, and 2632 m above sea level during
the transportation in both directions. Our
records show that the values of blood pressure
and heart rate were within normal limits during
the whole period of transportation. Both SVPB and
VEB were increasing during the ascent and
decreasing to the initial values during the
descent compared to the values at altitude of 898
m. The highest values (6 to 7-times exceeding the
initial ones) were measured at the summit. The
results have demonstrated that the occurrence of SVPB and VEB is proportional to the altitude. The
increased incidence in the number of extrasystoles is suggested to be mediated by
beta-adrenoceptors.
Key words
Electrocardiography
· Holter monitoring · Arrhythmias · Blood
pressure · Altitude hypoxia
Reprint
requests
Dr. Š. Kujaník, Department of Physiology,
Faculty of Medicine, Šafárik University, Tr. SNP. 1, Košice, Slovak Republic.