Hiking With A Pacemaker: Hidden Complications
The summer months call for outdoor exploration and enjoyment in the warmth and sunshine. Exercise is also well known to be beneficial to the cardiovascular system of those with both strong and weak hearts. However, exercising, even something as simple as walking through nature with a pacemaker, can have hidden complications. Before you strap on your hiking boots, smear on some sunscreen, and head to a sunny spot, it’s best to check with your doctor for a couple of reasons.
It can be said that it is generally common knowledge that exercise is beneficial to one’s cardiovascular system and to maintaining one’s general health. The article, Physical Activity and Your Heart - Benefits by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says that, “physical activity has many health benefits. These benefits apply to people of all ages, races and ethnicities, and sexes” (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022) and that “physically active adults are at lower risk for depression and declines in cognitive function as they get older. (Cognitive function includes thinking, learning, and judgment skills.) Physically active children and teens may have fewer symptoms of depression than their peers” (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022). Furthermore, physical activity lowers one’s likelihood of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022). This is because such general activity improves the function of the heart and lungs. This alone significantly lowers the risk factors of heart disease and heart attacks. As such, exercise in general boosts one's mood and improves the quality of life for those who participate in such activities (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2022). Some of these types of activities, according to the article Spring into Action: Outdoor Activities to Promote Heart Health, include running, practicing yoga outside, participating in outdoor group sports, swimming, gardening, cycling, and hiking, all of which benefit cardiovascular function and health. Therefore, hiking is described as “one of the simplest and most accessible outdoor activities, walking or hiking. It’s a low-impact exercise that can be adjusted to your fitness level and helps improve cardiocascular health” (Baltimore Cardiologists - Woodholme Cardiovascular Associates, 2023). As such, it can be concluded that hiking is beneficial, as it is good for cardiovascular health, and the individual can move at a pace they are both capable and willing to participate in. However, how much accommodation should a person with a pacemaker make to accommodate the device when they go out for a hike?
While hiking is generally considered safe for individuals with a pacemaker, several factors should be taken into consideration before heading out on the trail. The article, Traveling with a Pacemaker: Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Journey, emphisises that, although there is a particular fear of having ones health and maybe even life connected to a tiny wired device implanted just beneath the surface of the skin, “having a pacemaker does not have to slow you down. In fact, it is intended to do quite the opposite" (ForHearts Worldwide, 2023). The pacemaker is meant to regulate and manage the heartbeat because arrhythmia, or “rapid heartbeat can be accompanied by fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and even fainting” (ForHearts Worldwide, 2023). A device like a pacemaker is meant to regulate the individual’s “heart rate and rhythm, helping recipients improve their energy levels and physical stamina, so they can live a normal, healthy life filled with what they love” (ForHearts Worldwide, 2023). This includes activities like hiking. However, while there is a general understanding that a pacemaker is meant to maintain life, not hinder it, one should discuss a few factors with their doctor before participating in the activity.
Hiking is generally considered beneficial for health, although a few potential complications can arise. To mitigate this risk, it is advisable to consult with a physician, as certain physical activities may be more hazardous than others for individuals with specific medical conditions or other underlying health issues. Hiking could be “physically demanding” and “could be jarring and/or damaging to your device” (ForHearts Worldwide, 2023). This is particularly important if one intends to hike in isolated areas where medical assistance is less readily available. This is also why it is generally advised not to hike alone if you have a pacemaker.
Beyond the potential for physical damage to the device itself, one must also consider the general condition of the heart itself. If one has a pacemaker, then it is safe to assume that their heart is already not in peak physical condition, so it is wise to maintain the safety of the biological organ as much as the device that manages its function. Therefore, “you may want to take precautions if you are traveling at extreme altitudes or temperatures, as high-altitude locations or very hot or cold climates may put extra strain on the heart” (ForHearts Worldwide, 2023). With cardiovascular conditions, especially if you have mechanical devices implanted to manage them, such as pacemakers or mechanical heart valves, it adds layers of considerations to a physical heart that already requires a little extra attention.
In summary, hiking is widely regarded as a healthy and effective way to maintain one’s cardiovascular health. Even if one’s cardiovascular system is not functioning with peak efficiency, medical professionals still recommend it as one of many ways to stay fit and maintain, or potentially even regain, some heart function.
Do you hike with a pacemaker?
Reference list
Baltimore Cardiologists - Woodholme Cardiovascular Associates. (2023). Spring into Action: Outdoor Activities to Promote Heart Health - Baltimore Cardiologists - Woodholme Cardiovascular Associates. [online] Available at: https://woodholmecardio.com/spring-into-action-outdoor-activities-to-promote-heart-health/ [Accessed 10 Jun. 2025].
ForHearts Worldwide (2023). Traveling with a Pacemaker: Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Journey. [online] ForHearts. Available at: https://forhearts.org/traveling-with-a-pacemaker-tips-for-a-safe-and-enjoyable-journey/ [Accessed 11 Jun. 2025].
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2022). Physical Activity and Your Heart - Benefits | NHLBI, NIH. [online] www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heart/physical-activity/benefits.
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