Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-15
HIGH ATTITUDES DANGEROUS
Even a Strong Heart Will Not Stand the
0verstrain.
Persons Between the Ages of 55 and
20 Years should he Especially
Wary of High Places.


l Foh thc l'ihloH IIinttl
The public, and sometimes the inexperi-
enced Observation-Disclosures not in gen.
eral therapeutics. but in the ply Biological
| effects of altitude a weak heart-make
| light of a danger they cannot understand
| But If altitude of from 1000 to 5000 fee;
| above the sea level puts a certain amount
of strain on a normal heart and by a rise
of the blood pressure indirectly also on the
small perpheral arteries, must not this ac-
ton b" multiplied in the case of a heart
suffering from even an early stage of my
ocarditis. or in the case of arteries with
thickened or even calcified walls? 1t is
especially the rapidty of the change from
one altitude to another. with differences of
from 5000 to 1000 feet, which must be con-
sidered. There is call made on the con-
tractibihty of the small arteries on the
one hand, and on the amount of muscular
force of the heart on the other hand, and
if the structures in question cannot re-
spond to this call. rupture of an artery or
dratation of the heart may ensue. In the
case of normal condition of the circula-
tory organs little harm is done beyond some
transient discomfort, such as dizziness,
buZZing in the ears, palpitation, general
malaiSe,' and this often only in the case
of people totally unaccuStomSd to high alti-
tudes. For such it is desirable to take the
high altitude by degrees in two or three
stages, say first stage 1900 feet, second
stage from 1000 to 5000 feet, with 4 stay
of one or two days at the intermediate
places. The stay at the health resort will
be shortened, 1t is true, but the patient will
derive more benefit. On the return journey
one short stay at one intermediate place
will suffice. Even a fairly strong heart
will not stand an overstrain in the first
days spent at a high altitude. A Dutch
lady. about forty years Of age, who had
spent lifetime in the lowlands, came di-
reetly up to Adelboden latitude, $500 feeD.
An Injudicious Patient.
After two days she went on an excursion
with a party up to an Alp 1000 feet high,
making the ascent quite slowly in four
hours Sudden heart syncope ensued, which
lasted the best part of an hour, though l
CHANGED to be near and could give assist
ance, which was urgently needed. The
patient recovered, but derived no benefit
from fortnightS stay, and had to return
to the low ground the worse for her trip
and her inConsiderate enterprise. Rapid
aScents to a high altitude are Very inju-
r;ouS to patients with arteriO-scleroSs, and
the mountain railways up to 1000 and 10000
feet are positively dangerous to an unsus-
pecting public, for many persons between
the ages of tifty-fiVe and seventy years
consider themselves to be hale and healthy
and are quite unconscious Of having ad-
vanced arterio-scerosis and perchance con-
tracted kidney. An American gentleman,
aged fifty-eight Years. was under my care
pointing to Sclerosis of the coronary ar
teries. A two months course of treatment
at Zurich with massage, baths and proper
exercise and diet did away with all the
symptoms. / saw him by chance some
months later. My son is going to St.
Moritz 5000 feeO for the summer" said
he. May go with him.? Most certainly
not" was my answer. The patient then
consulted d professor. who allowed him to
go. Circumstances. however, took him for
the summer to Sachseln, which is situated
at an altitude of only 1000 feet, and he
spent a good summer. But he must needs
go up the Pilatus by rail G.00O feeD, re-
lying on the professors permission, and
the result was disastrous for he almost
died from a violent attack of angina pee
toris on the night of his return from the
Pilatus, and vowed on his return to Zurich
to keep under 1000 feet in future. I may
here mention that bad results in the shape
of heart collapse. angina pectoris, cardiac
asthma and last. not least, apoplexy, often
occur only on the return TO the lowlands.