Mountain location spells longer life

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study shows that living at high altitude seems to promote a longer life.
It's already known that people in Greece tend to have a lower risk of heart problems than those in other developed countries. A team at the University of Athens now reveals that even within Greece, location is an important issue.

They looked at people in three villages not far from the capital, Athens. One village was 1,000 meters above sea level. Overall, those in this mountain village had a worse cardiovascular profile but they lived longer.

The researchers wonder if living at high altitude confers some physiological benefit, like increased ability to take up oxygen. It may also be that exercising at increased altitude offers an enhanced benefit to the heart.

Source
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health March 2005 Volume 59 pages 274-278