Lack of oxygen in Lake Tahoe could adversely affect people who have heart conditions
By Kathryn Reed
Living at higher elevations has health benefits and drawbacks.
Thin air means an increase in red blood cells, which is one reason athletes like to train at high altitudes. They tend to perform better when they return to sea level. But mountain sickness hits some who gain too much elevation or do so too fast. Then there is the issue with the inability to get enough oxygen.
David Young with Barton Cardiology spoke before a crowd of more than 80 people Wednesday night at Lake Tahoe Community College about issues of the heart when it comes to living at 6,200 feet and higher.
The South Lake Tahoe doctor said he started seeing signs of sleep apnea with many of his patients. But these weren’t overweight people who would be more prone to that condition. These were fit Tahoe-ites.
David Young with Barton Cardiology talks Feb. 6 about how sleep apnea affects the heart. Photo/Kathryn Reed
“Clearly there was something happening to their respiration at night,” Young said.
Signs of central sleep apnea include:
• Restless sleep
• Poor concentration
• Nocturnal angina
• Frequent urination at night
• Awakening with sensation of gasping-choking
• Mood swings.
Not getting adequate oxygen can affect people who have a heart condition. People with severe sleep apnea are nearly three times more likely to have hypertension, Young said.
“Treatment of sleep apnea abolishes bradyeardia and asystole,” Young said. These are two types of heart conditions.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common malfunction with the heart. Between 32 and 82 percent with it also have sleep apnea.
“There’s a high rate in particular with what we see in Lake Tahoe,” Young said. “If I don’t correct the apnea, there is an 82 percent likely recurrence of the atrial fibrillation.”
He went on to say, “Sleep apnea is present in 76 percent of the patients with heart failure.”
It used to be that overnight sleep studies were the only way to deal with sleep apnea. Now people can use at-home monitors that are strapped to a finger and include being hooked to oxygen.
Young said the sure-fire ways to stay healthy living at higher elevations are to not be overweight, don’t smoke because that puts even more stress on the lungs, stay hydrated, limit alcohol and caffeine intake, and get a CalStar membership just in case.
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Note: Young will be repeating this lecture Feb. 13 at Sierra Nevada College in Incline from 6-7pm.
I wonder if high altitude also has anything to do with so many people being on prilosec for stomach issues?
FYI. We have the same amount of oxygen in the air in Lake Tahoe as they do at sea level, 20.9%. The difference is in our atmospheric pressure, which is 11.8psi at 6,000 feet as opposed to 14.7psi at sea level. So that is the reason it takes more effort to breathe in Lake Tahoe than at sea level. Same oxygen percentage, less outside pressure to help air into your lungs when you take a breath. Hope this helps. Thanks, Jay.
Although the percent O2 is the same at sea level versus high elevation, there is actually less air (less total molecules) at high elevation due to less air pressure (Boyles Law). Therefore there is also less O2 available to breath because there are less molecules of air, including O2.