zinger1457
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2007
- Messages
- 3,232
[FONT="]Well, maybe it's not so simple but visited Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs CO recently and there was an interesting article in the local paper about the positive (and some negative) effects of living at altitude (>5000') on one’s health. I couldn't find an online link to the newspaper article but did find a study that seems to support some of the claims (link below). Probably not enough studies/data out there yet but interesting reading nonetheless.
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Pros to living at altitude:[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and certain types of cancer.
[/FONT][FONT="]- People at higher altitudes on average have a higher life expectancy. The top 3 counties in the US for life expectancy were at high altitudes.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Less obesity, people living at near sea level were 4-5X more likely to be obese than those living at significantly higher altitudes. Higher altitudes have been shown to increase the levels of the hormone leptin that controls appetite. Breathing in less oxygen has also been shown to decrease appetite. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Cons to living at altitude:[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Someone with sleep apnea will likely find that the condition gets worse at higher altitudes.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Greater chance of getting skin cancer.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Babies born at high altitude (>8000') are typically smaller in size and have to be monitored closely for breathing issues until their lungs more fully develop.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- For those with existing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, etc. moving to higher altitudes could make the condition worse.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Found this study that discusses the effects of living at altitude.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4113517/ [/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]Pros to living at altitude:[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and certain types of cancer.
[/FONT][FONT="]- People at higher altitudes on average have a higher life expectancy. The top 3 counties in the US for life expectancy were at high altitudes.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Less obesity, people living at near sea level were 4-5X more likely to be obese than those living at significantly higher altitudes. Higher altitudes have been shown to increase the levels of the hormone leptin that controls appetite. Breathing in less oxygen has also been shown to decrease appetite. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Cons to living at altitude:[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Someone with sleep apnea will likely find that the condition gets worse at higher altitudes.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Greater chance of getting skin cancer.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- Babies born at high altitude (>8000') are typically smaller in size and have to be monitored closely for breathing issues until their lungs more fully develop.[/FONT]
[FONT="]- For those with existing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, etc. moving to higher altitudes could make the condition worse.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Found this study that discusses the effects of living at altitude.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4113517/ [/FONT]
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