Grant: Operating Grant

People who live at higher altitudes get less heart attacks and strokes, but no one knows why. People think it could be because people who live at higher altitude have less risk factors, have more money, get more sunlight, or have cleaner air. We also wonder if it is because the air pressure is lower at higher altitude. No one study has looked at all of these things. We have some early data that suggests that of all the possible reasons, that lower air pressure is the most promising reason. We propose to see if lower air pressure from living at higher altitude lowers the risk for heart attack, heart failure, and stroke in Alberta. We will also look to see if changes in air pressure due to weather alter risk for these problems. If we find that lower air pressure reduces problems from heart attack, heart failure, and stroke, then maybe lowering air pressure in a chamber could be a new treatment for new and chronic cardiovascular diseases.