Trip to Vail, CO

[JLev]

Hi All,

I made plans to visit Vail, CO in July.
I was wondering if I need to be concerned about the high altitude there.
Will it have an affect on my INR? How about on my heart?
I'll most probably going to do some hiking, biking and some other activities.
I don't do strenuous exercise on a regular basis, though I do go walking daily.
I will consult with my Dr., but I wanted to hear your input too.
Thanks!

JLev,
Mitral valve replacement in 1998 - St. Judes Mechanical

 

[SumoRunner]

I'm a flatlander too. I have run in CO many times, Denver, Boulder, Ft Collins, Golden (all around 5,000 ft) and as long as it was a casual pace I had no problems. I hiked up a mesa in Golden just 2-3 weeks after my AVR and had to go slow but then the folks I was with weren't doing any better. I did run a 5K race in Boulder once and the altitude slowed me down quite a bit. You reach max HR a lot sooner. Now, Vail is at 8,000 ft and that's a whole nuther level. I think I'd have some difficulty even jogging easily at that alt.

 

[Lily]

Ah Vail! Beautiful Country! If you're not used to traveling to or in high altitude, you may notice difficulty catching your breath. Heat and humidity can exacerbate the reduced oxygen but fortunately Vail doesn't usually get very warm, even in July, and the only humidity is during the brief afternoon thunderstorms. You will need to pay attention to your personal hydration. Make sure you get proper rest. Hopefully you won't have any problems but some heart patients get a headache and can even become nauseated in the high altitude. Take things easy. And enjoy the scenery