I began in Florida and moved to Flagstaff, Arizona with an elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level. Recently I began to have problems with my blood pressure. It has always been a little high. Now readings hit as high as 200/100. With multiple medications the average was 170/90 with a resting hear rate of 96 beats per minute.
A little high but never before was it a concern for the doctor.
I have been a type I diabetic for 23 years.
I am an active person.
Here is where the confusion for me begins.
I moved to Texas for 6 months about two years ago then moved back to Flagstaff. When I returned I gained a significant amount of weight over the next several months. I have horrible stretch marks to prove it. I exercised more but found any energy output to be exhausting. Then I broke my foot, fractured four of the five metatarsal bones. The fractures took a very long year to heal. My blood pressure maintained a high overall average.
I stayed as active as I could with my foot in an air cast.
During this time the local college did some research that showed people with diabetes and high bp had a harder time absorbing oxygen into their system at higher elevations. A group of volunteers lived in Flagstaff and then in Tucson, elevation approximately 2400 feet above sea level.
The study did worry me. My foot did not appear to be healing well, I was gaining weight, and I was just plain tired.
At this juncture I took an opportunity for a job in Delaware. Here I am.
Now my bp is solid normal - I am only on Lisinopril. My resting heart rate average is 72. I have a lot more energy and my weight has gone down significantly.
I have been here in Delaware four months.
But I miss the friends and family in Flagstaff.
My questions;
Will the higher elevations be detrimental to blood flow circulation especially being a diabetic? I want to keep my feet and my vision as long as possible.
Will the increase in bp and heart rate cause me start slowing down? Is my heart getting tired?
Am I relegated to sea level living?
Any information or experience anyone here has would be great.
