Systemic blood pressure in white men born at sea level: Changes after long residence at high altitudes

doi:10.1016/0002-9149(69)90516-5

The American Journal of Cardiology

Volume 23, Issue 3, March 1969, Pages 364-368

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(69)90516-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

A retrospective survey performed in 100 men born at sea level, residing at 12,398 feet of altitude for 2 to 15 years, has provided a basis for studying the systemic blood pressure changes possibly associated with prolonged residence in a hypoxic environment.

Comparison of the blood pressure at the initial and final examinations revealed: (1) decrements of 10 mm. Hg or more for systolic and diastolic pressures in the whole sample in 56 and 46 per cent of the subjects, respectively; (2) significant differences except for diastolic pressure in the subjects with the longest period of residence at high altitude; and (3) in lowlanders, a response of blood pressure to aging at this altitude differing from that at sea level. In general, the final blood pressure closely resembled that observed in healthy natives of the same altitude.

Since diet, physical activity on the job, and habits in these subjects were similar to those of their original countries and quite different from those of the Andean population, it seems probable that these findings are causally related to an environmental hypoxic stimulus. Functional or anatomic vascular changes decreasing peripheral vascular resistance to blood flow would be the principal determinant of the observed differences.

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There are conflicting results regarding the development of systemic hypertension on chronic hypoxia exposure. Several studies have reported that chronic hypoxia did not alter the systemic blood pressure (Schneider and Hedblom, 1908; Marticorena et al., 1969; Hampl et al., 1993; Rabinovitch et al., 1979; Hsieh et al., 2015; Vajner et al., 2006). On the contrary, some of the studies noted elevated systemic arterial blood pressure which occurred within one to two weeks after the onset of hypoxia in contrast to pulmonary hypertension that sets in early after hypoxia exposure (Rocher et al., 2018; Flor et al., 2018; Moraes et al., 2014; Barton et al., 2003; Vaziri and Wang, 1996).
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^☆: This study was supported by a special research grant from the World Health Organization, and in part by the U. S. Public Health Service Research Grant HE-06910-05.

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Clinical studySystemic blood pressure in white men born at sea level: Changes after long residence at high altitudes☆

Abstract

La presión arterial en las altiplanicias andinas

An. Fac. Med. Lima

Presión Arterial en la Altura

Pulmonary hypertension in children born and living at high altitudes

Am. J. Cardiol.

Pulmonary hypertension in healthy men born and living at high altitudes

Am. J. Cardiol.

Physiological Patterns: Cardiovascular Characteristics of Healthy Man

The normal blood pressure range and its clinical implications

J.A.M.A.

An epidemiologic study of blood pressure levels in a biracial community in the Southern United States

Am. J. Hyg.

Effects of acute hypoxia and exercise on the pulmonary circulation

Circulation

Hypoxia

Pulmonary circulation at sea level and at high altitudes

J. Appl. Physiol.

Experimental induction of pulmonary hypertension in normal steers at high altitudes

Med. Thorac.

Basal metabolism and respiration in men living at 5, 800 m. (19, 000 ft)

J. Appl. Physiol.

Clinical study
Systemic blood pressure in white men born at sea level: Changes after long residence at high altitudes☆