Cardiovascular changes during sudden ascent in a cable cabin to the moderate altitude

Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the occurrence of extrasystoles in higher decennia is proportional to the altitude. The occurrence of supraven tricular (SVPB) and ventricular (VEB) extrasystoles, values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the heart rate were studied in 20 healthy eld erly men (50-64 years) during cable cabin transportation to a moderate alti tude. These values were measured in stations located at 898 m, 1764 m, and 2632 m above sea level during the transportation in both directions. Our re cords show that the values of blood pressure and heart rate were within nor mal limits during the whole period of transportation. Both SVPB and VEE wer e increasing during the ascent and decreasing to the initial values during the descent compared to the values at altitude of 898 m. The highest values (6 to 7-times exceeding the initial ones) were measured at the summit. The results have demonstrated that the occurrence of SVPB and VEE is proportio nal to the altitude. The increased incidence in the number of extrasystoles is suggested to be mediated by beta-adrenoceptors.