Dr. Elizabeth Egan in her excellent book, Notes from Higher Grounds, shares that “the optimal altitude at which to live is somewhere between 2,100 m (6,900 feet) and 2,500 m (8,200 feet).” Estes Park is in that sweet spot between these two figures, at 7,500 feet above sea level.
In studies spanning the globe, researchers have seen several consistencies in people living at higher elevations: they weigh less, have less cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer and live longer.
Activities at higher altitudes such as skiing, hiking, bicycling or climbing can place too much stress on the heart and blood vessels due to lower levels of oxygen and fluctuations in air pressure, temperature and humidity.
Results of a four-year study by researchers at the University of Colorado suggest that living at altitudes around 5,000 feet (Denver is 5,280 feet above see level) or higher might increase lifespan.
Statistically, life expectancy at high altitude decreases with increasing altitude, considering that VO2 max decreases by 9 % every 100 m above an altitude of 1100 m, and aging is characterized by decrease in VO2 max of 1% per year (Wagner, 1996).
The initial euphoria is a result of increased dopamine, the neurotransmitter contributing to feelings of pleasure, when entering high altitude. Dopamine is a short-burning fire, and then it's gone, Goodwin explained.
When living at high altitude for a certain period of time, the human body acclimatizes by increasing pulmonary perfusion and lung capacity, increasing the oxygen-binding capacity of blood and peripheral tissues, and increasing the amount of red blood cells in order to endure the low atmospheric pressure and low partial ...
Unfortunately, people with pre-existing medical conditions find it difficult to travel to higher altitudes, especially if they have high blood pressure and are using medication for it. This is because ascending to higher altitudes causes your blood pressure to increase, leading to negative consequences.
It also means that injuries which bleed will be even more difficult to stop than at home. As the body acclimatises the blood will get thicker (more red blood cells). It usually takes several weeks (over 1 month?) at altitude before any changes are noticed.
Although some studies have identified changes to the structure and the quality of sleep at high altitudes, there was actually little in the way of objective evidence to suggest that altitude has a negative impact on sleep.
It is the lack of oxygen rather than the reduced air pressure that actually limits the height at which we can breathe. An elevation of about 20,000 feet above sea level is the maximum height at which sufficient oxygen exists in the air to sustain us.
Altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness, happens when your body is unable to adapt to a low-pressure, low-oxygen environment — typically at about 8,000 feet above sea level. This can cause breathing issues and a host of other symptoms which can range from very mild to life-threatening.
Using those numbers as reference, we can calculate that if an observer at sea level stayed there for 100 years, someone who would have stayed on the Everest would be older by roughly 0.003 seconds. Technically yes, relative to an observer on Earth, a person at higher altitudes will age faster.
Breathe Fresh Air
Being on the mountaintops allows you to live far from pollution and experience air that is free of toxic gases. This improves your lungs' health, preventing you from developing asthma and other acute respiratory diseases.
Travelers with medical conditions such as heart failure, myocardial ischemia (angina), sickle cell disease, any form of pulmonary insufficiency or preexisting hypoxemia, or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) should consult a physician familiar with high-altitude medical issues before undertaking such travel (Table 3-05).
Evidence suggests that heart failure patients should avoid climbing more than 300–500 meters a day when in high-altitude locations, since drastic changes in elevation can worsen symptoms.
With increasing altitude, systemic vascular resistance rises, elevating heart rate and blood pressure; likewise, pulmonary vasoconstriction produces pulmonary hypertension especially during exercise.
Within a few hours, people with brain tumors may develop severe neurologic symptoms at high elevations. These symptoms persist even after descent. This suggests that anyone suffering persistent neurological symptoms after descent and treatment should have a brain scan to rule out a tumor.
Living at high altitude reduces risk of dying from heart disease: Low oxygen may spur genes to create blood vessels. Summary: Researchers have found that people living at higher altitudes have a lower chance of dying from heart disease and live longer.
High altitudes can cause low oxygen saturation levels or desaturation of an individual's blood. It happens because of low atmospheric pressure at high altitudes. Oxygen saturation levels refer to the extent hemoglobin is bound or saturated to oxygen.
High altitude = 1,500–3,500 metres (4,900–11,500 ft) Very high altitude = 3,500–5,500 metres (11,500–18,000 ft) Extreme altitude = above 5,500 metres (18,000 ft)
When you say altitude sickness, most people – including me – think of headache, shortness of breath, maybe some nausea or vomiting. I learned, though, that high altitude can also aggravate diarrhea or constipation, and cause “intestinal gas” – i.e., bloating and increased farts.
The increased rate of perceived exertion is caused by altitude-induced hypoxia, which is a decrease in the amount of oxygen being delivered to the muscles to burn fuel and create energy. As elite athletes acclimate to high altitude, they acquire more red blood cells which allows their blood to carry more oxygen.
Activation of HIF upon altitude exposure may transcriptionally upregulate leptin levels, enhance leptin sensitivity, which in turn may suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss through increased energy expenditure.