Why does my BP rise in Utah in winter, vs east coast?
Posted , 6 users are following.
I spend winters in Utah, skiing. I normally live on the east coast.
When I go to Utah, my BP rises, compared to east coast BP. This has happened for 3 or 4 years. When I return to the east coast, it goes back to normal.
One obvious guess is other lifestyle changes, such as change in diet. But I probably eat more salt when I'm home. I go to the gym less often in Utah. (Note: Salt Lake City elevation is around 4,500 ft; the ski area elevation is 8,500--10,500.)
I am a 75 y.o. while male in generally very good health, with well-controlled HT.
I've found some research that shows that BP rises with increased elevation, but there's not much on this matter.
Anyone have any guesses? My Utah internist dismisses my observations, says he is not aware of increases in BP as a function of increased elevation.
0 likes, 9 replies
jx41870 Infoseeker999
Posted
My BP is always at its worst from about the winter solstice through Valentine's day, even down around sea level! I was wondering if it's something in the pumpkin spice everything, LOL. Just cold weather causes the body to cut circulation to the body's outer layers and this can make the readings worse and perhaps exaggerate the actual situation.
Be careful with that skiing over age 70 ...
Infoseeker999 jx41870
Posted
Sorry for late reply, only now saw this.
Age no problem. I ski with lots of geezers, including 1 who is around 85 and has a BIG belly. Remember, too, that in skiing you're sitting down more than half the time, and when you're on the slope, gravity is doing most of the work.
VeeWat Infoseeker999
Posted
same happens to me when we go to Flafstaff AZ from the midwest. my cardiologist says there is no reason it should do this.
Infoseeker999 VeeWat
Posted
Interesting. Flagstaff altitude is 6909. How often does this happen?
And you would think that the increased altitude might make your BP go down--less air pressure.
VeeWat Infoseeker999
Posted
we go twice a year. i dont know why.
after this pandemic we will go again.
jaxxtaxx Infoseeker999
Posted
I know it would not seem to make sense in your case, but I am wondering if perhaps you get less sunlight in the winter than in the summer. Just read an article in the July 2020 issue of Readers Digest on the subject. But if you are all covered up when you ski it is a distinct possibility. You are likely active outdoors in the summer when at home and get a lot of sun exposure.
Infoseeker999 jaxxtaxx
Posted
Not sure about amount of sunlight. I don't get much in winter or summer. I'm fair-skinned and I try to avoid sunlight. I spend as little time as possible outdoors.
As far as sources of good medical info, try pubmed.gov.
joshuapryce1987 Infoseeker999
Posted
Salt and sugar can effect heart rate to a degree but only in high quantities. It wouldnt be the atmosphere that effects heart rate unless it (the atmosphere) changes your moods.
Infoseeker999 joshuapryce1987
Posted
I can't figure out what it could be, except that, as I said earlier, I did find some research that says that altitude CAN in fact affect BP. I suspect there's still a lot that's not known about BP. Remember, for example, that it was only about 30 years ago or so that it was discovered that in fact 120 (to 130 or so) was the upper suggested limit for systolic.