It's the altitude. Renshaw's theory is that altitude causes changes in the brain chemicals dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and Serotonin are involved in a host of actions but are most widely known in their role in mood and reward seeking.
Scientists have long known that the body adjusts to the oxygen-deprived conditions of high altitudes. At 5260 meters, close to the level of the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal, the atmosphere holds 53% as much oxygen as the air at sea level, making it harder to breathe—and to exercise.
Interactions between genetic, behavioral and environmental conditions at altitude are complex and may differently impact on mortality from various diseases. Living at higher altitudes seems to be associated with lower mortality from cardiovascular diseases, stroke and certain types of cancer.
Within seconds of exposure to altitude, ventilation is increased, meaning we start trying to breathe more, as the body responds to less oxygen in each breath, and attempts to increase oxygen uptake.
The air at higher altitudes is colder, less dense, and contains fewer oxygen molecules. This means that you need to take more breaths in order to get the same amount of oxygen as you would at lower altitudes. The higher the elevation, the more difficult breathing becomes.
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.
The differences are minor but measurable. If you were to sit at the peak of Mount Everest — which is 29,000 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level — for 30 years, you would be 0.91 millisecond older than if you had spent those same 30 years at sea level, according to NIST (opens in new tab).
The men lived between 75.8 and 78.2 years, while women ranged from 80.5 to 82.5 years. Compared to those living near sea-level, the men lived 1.2 to 3.6 years longer and women 0.5 to 2.5 years more.
You would weigh very slightly more at sea level than at the top of a mountain, not enough for you to notice, but a measurable amount. Weight, which really means gravitational force, is proportional to the product of the masses of two objects acting on each other, in this case the giant earth and the minuscule you.
After the human body reaches around 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) above sea level, the saturation of oxyhemoglobin begins to decrease rapidly.
“As well as improving sleep, recent scientific research shows that coastal living can also help in warding off depression and anxiety.” In fact, you don't even have to get your feet wet to feel the mental and health benefits of living by the sea.
No significant changes were found in sleep efficiency or awakenings after travelling from 1,500 feet to 5,300 feet and then on to 8,500 feet but researchers did record a slight reduction in deep sleep. The review identified a study that suggested the higher the altitude, the bigger the impact on sleep.
Research has linked people living around these aquatic environments with having increased physical activity, lower psychological distress, better overall health and well-being, as well as lower mortality rates.
Our data suggest that moving from low to high altitude is associated with increasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
People exposed to high altitudes often experience somatic symptoms triggered by hypoxia, such as breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, headache, and insomnia. Most of the symptoms are identical to those reported in panic attacks or severe anxiety.
With so much less oxygen, your body has to breathe more to get the same amount of the essential molecule. This leads to the shortness of breath, dizziness and tiredness indicative of altitude sickness. The oxygen drop combined with the decreased air pressure packs a one-two punch to your cardiovascular system.
In sports, high altitude typically means at least 7,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. At this elevation, there's less oxygen in the air. Your workout will feel more difficult, and you'll get tired more quickly. The idea is that high altitude training forces your body to adapt to the lack of oxygen.
The “take away” is that, yes, metabolism increases slightly at higher altitudes resulting in greater caloric expenditure, but this difference is insignificant. Calorie burn is influenced to a more significant degree by the above factors – regardless of your altitude.
High Variability
At sea level, oxygen saturation hovers around 98 to 100 percent, but at 14,000 feet, the saturation levels drops to 80 percent due to oxygen-poor air, requiring the heart to increase cardiac output, requiring a 10 to 30 percent increase in heart rate to maintain appropriate oxygen delivery to tissues.
[Conclusion] University students living at high altitude had a slower HR and higher oxygen saturation levels as well as higher lung and inspiratory capacity levels. Thus, physiological improvement in oxygen saturation levels and pulmonary function were seen in the individuals living at high altitude.
According to studies, people over age 65+ tolerate moderate altitude better than expected. Residency at higher altitude is associated with lower mortality. Studies have also shown that there is a 50% lower risk of dying from Alzheimer's disease compared to those living at lower altitudes.
The simple answer is yes. The lower the altitude, the richer the mix of oxygen in the air. A move from a high altitude to a significantly lower altitude will very likely lessen your need for an oxygen tank to deal with COPD. On the basis of your need for oxygen, it makes sense to move.
Science does back up these sayings. Darker skin can show age more slowly because it has more melanin (dark pigment that determines sun sensitivity). The more melanin you have, the more protection you have against photoaging, or skin damage from too much exposure to the sun's rays.
New study says decline begins in our 50s
Researchers with Duke University's School of Medicine suggest that physical decline begins in the decade of the 50s and worsens as we age, especially for those who don't exercise.
It is widely accepted as one of life's bleak but unavoidable facts: as we get older, our brains get slower. But now a study, based on data from more than 1 million people, suggests that mental processing speed remains almost constant until the age of 60.