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What Causes Dizziness After Travelling To High Altitude?

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Posted on Wed, 28 Jan 2015
Twitter Thu, 29 Jan 2015 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 26 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on
Question : We are traveling fro Death Valley to Las Vegas. Now my husband is dizzy. Could this be from the altitude changes? He is 78 and has a pacemaker
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Answered by Dr. Praveen (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, high altitude illness is one of the reasons

Detailed Answer:
Hello.Thanks for your query.

As per your description this can possibly be one of the reasons- high altitude illness provided the heart function is healthy.Higher altitude cause hypoxia(decreased oxygen supply to the brain) which results in dizziness, drowsiness and fatigue.

I would be glad to know some more information-
Does he have a prior history of high altitude illness?
Are you ascending rapidly(approximately 9000 feet in less than one day)?
Does he have any history of respiratory illness or any other medical illness?
What medications is he currently on?

Await your reply soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Praveen

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 1055 Questions

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What Causes Dizziness After Travelling To High Altitude?

Brief Answer: Yes, high altitude illness is one of the reasons Detailed Answer: Hello.Thanks for your query. As per your description this can possibly be one of the reasons- high altitude illness provided the heart function is healthy.Higher altitude cause hypoxia(decreased oxygen supply to the brain) which results in dizziness, drowsiness and fatigue. I would be glad to know some more information- Does he have a prior history of high altitude illness? Are you ascending rapidly(approximately 9000 feet in less than one day)? Does he have any history of respiratory illness or any other medical illness? What medications is he currently on? Await your reply soon.