Thin Air In The Mountains Can Trigger Lung Hypertension, High-Risk Hiking Lovers

Illustration of hiking. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Lung hypertension is one of the serious conditions that is often not realized because the symptoms are similar to ordinary fatigue. This disorder occurs when blood pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels increases, so the right heart must work harder to pump blood into the respiratory organs.

This situation can be triggered by various factors, ranging from congenital diseases to certain environmental conditions, including exposure to low oxygen levels.

In his explanation, the Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Cardiovascular Heart Specialist at the University of Indonesia Hospital (RS UI) dr. dr. Hary Sakti Muliawan, Ph.D., Sp.JP, Subsp.PRKv.(K) stated that activity in the highlands could trigger lung hypertension, especially in groups that have risks.

"This is a bit unique, athletes or people who like to hiking, to the mountains, the oxygen saturation is low and sometimes it can trigger lung hypertension," said doctor Hary at a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday.

He explained that the air conditions at the altitude have lower oxygen levels. This can cause an increase in pressure in the pulmonary blood vessels, so that the right heart is forced to work harder.

Even so, that doesn't mean all hiking lovers will experience such disorders. The risk of hypertension for the lungs is higher in individuals with congenital heart disease, autoimmune disorders such as lupus, lung problems such as tuberculosis and asthma, to pregnant women. In this group, activity at high levels can increase conditions and trigger symptoms.

Signs that need to be watched out for include the emergence of shortness of breath after mild activity, excessive fatigue, and swelling after climbing. Doctor Hary stressed that these symptoms should not be ignored. Examination by a heart and lung specialist is important to ensure diagnosis and determine appropriate handling steps.

For risky patients, evaluating physical conditions becomes an early stage before determining the types and intensity of exercise. "We first check how much physical capacity, usually we have a calculation that we reduce from our maximum capacity to reduce 80 percent so that they can (exercise)," he said. Therefore, he suggested that patients consult in health facilities that have complete assessment capabilities, so that physical activity can be adjusted to their respective conditions.

The same thing applies to people living in the highlands. Doctor Hary emphasized that not everyone is automatically exposed to pulmonary hypertension. "But again, this is genetic, so there are some people who do have vulnerabilities to these genetics, so living at that height is only the originator of lung hypertension. Not automatically, all those who live at that height will have lung hypertension, not really," he said.

He added that in active smokers, lung hypertension usually develops from severe lung damage due to smoking, so this condition appears as a secondary disease.

Pulmonary hypertension can cause narrowing or damage to pulmonary blood vessels which eventually trigger symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, to fatigue even if they only do light activities. Therefore, early detection and understanding of risk factors are essential to prevent long-term complications.