Altitude, Atmospheric Pressure and Physiopathological Phenomena on the Cardiovascular System

The most relevant effects of mountain altitudes are linked to the reduction of the partial pressure of Oxygen in the inspired air. The effects could become critical for many persons already at altitudes greater than 2,500 m, leading to a drop of the arterial oxygen saturation below 90%. As altitude increases, the progressively reduced arterial availability of oxygen leads to a potentially dangerous series of cardiovascular and pulmonary adjustments, such as increased pulmonary artery pressure, increased heart rate and systemic blood pressure, increased ventilation, respiratory alkalosis and progressive reduction of effort tolerance.