If you want to live longer and lower the risk of heart disease, a move to the mountains may help.
If
you
want
to
live
longer
and
lower
the
risk
of
heart
disease
,
a
move
to
the
mountains
may
help
.
Research by scientists in Greece shows that living in the mountains is good for the heart and longevity.
Research
by
scientists
in
Greece
shows
that
living
in
the
mountains
is
good
for
the
heart
and
longevity
.
People living at higher altitude have lower possibility of dying from heart disease than those closer to sea level, even if they have factors that could increase their risk.
People
living
at
higher
altitude
have
lower
possibility
of
dying
from
heart
disease
than
those
closer
to
sea
level
,
even
if
they
have
factors
that
could
increase
their
risk
.
"Residence in mountainous areas seems to have a 'protective effect' from heart disease," said Dr Nikos Baibas of the University of Athens.
``
Residence
in
mountainous
areas
seems
to
have
a
'protective
effect
'
from
heart
disease
,
''
said
Dr
Nikos
Baibas
of
the
University
of
Athens
.
He and his colleagues suspect that the increased exercise from walking up mountainous area gives the heart a good workout and enables it to cope with lower levels of oxygen.
He
and
his
colleagues
suspect
that
the
increased
exercise
from
walking
up
mountainous
area
gives
the
heart
a
good
workout
and
enables
it
to
cope
with
lower
levels
of
oxygen
.
Researchers studied the health records and death rates of 1,150 Greeks who lived in three villages near Athens over 15 years.
Researchers
studied
the
health
records
and
death
rates
of
1,150
Greeks
who
lived
in
three
villages
near
Athens
over
15
years
.
One village was 1,000 meters above sea level and the other two were in low-lying areas.
One
village
was
1,000
meters
above
sea
level
and
the
other
two
were
in
low-lying
areas
.
Although men and women living in the mountainous village had higher blood pressure rates and other risk factors than people in the other villages, they had a lower rate of death from heart disease and other causes after a fifteen year follow-up.
Although
men
and
women
living
in
the
mountainous
village
had
higher
blood
pressure
rates
and
other
risk
factors
than
people
in
the
other
villages
,
they
had
a
lower
rate
of
death
from
heart
disease
and
other
causes
after
a
fifteen
year
follow-up
.
"The contrast was more evident among men than among women," Baibas added in a report in theJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
``
The
contrast
was
more
evident
among
men
than
among
women
,
''
Baibas
added
in
a
report
in
theJournal
of
Epidemiology
and
Community
Health
.
Heart disease is one of the world's top killers.
Heart
disease
is
one
of
the
world
's
top
killers
.
Smoking, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels, being overweight and a family history of the illness increase the possibility of developing the disease.
Smoking
,
high
blood
pressure
,
raised
cholesterol
levels
,
being
overweight
and
a
family
history
of
the
illness
increase
the
possibility
of
developing
the
disease
.
If you want to live longer and lower the risk of heart disease, a move to the mountains may help. Research by scientists in Greece shows that living in the mountains is good for the heart and longevity. People living at higher altitude have lower possibility of dying from heart disease than those closer to sea level, even if they have factors that could increase their risk. "Residence in mountainous areas seems to have a 'protective effect' from heart disease," said Dr Nikos Baibas of the University of Athens. He and his colleagues suspect that the increased exercise from walking up mountainous area gives the heart a good workout and enables it to cope with lower levels of oxygen.  Researchers studied the health records and death rates of 1,150 Greeks who lived in three villages near Athens over 15 years. One village was 1,000 meters above sea level and the other two were in low-lying areas. Although men and women living in the mountainous village had higher blood pressure rates and other risk factors than people in the other villages, they had a lower rate of death from heart disease and other causes after a fifteen year follow-up. "The contrast was more evident among men than among women," Baibas added in a report in theJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Heart disease is one of the world's top killers. Smoking, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels, being overweight and a family history of the illness increase the possibility of developing the disease.