A peak in health: the health benefits of vacationing in the Mountains!

There is something about being at a mountaintop that makes you feel at the top of the world! The amazing views after a hard climb or the surreal feeling of "I made it!" after a strenuous hike are just a part of that feeling. I feel more connected to nature and myself I guess when I am there! I know most of it is because of the bad cellphone signal there. I guess a disconnect from technology may be a part of it too.

I caught my parents watching the Netflix series, The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner about parts of the world where it's common for people to live past 100. One of the things he gathered was people living at a higher altitude or incline were more likely to live longer. There is evidence that suggests that your heart and lungs have to work harder to survive in the low oxygen levels of mountain air. it pushes your body in a positive way, like an exercise benefit. Again walking at an incline is more challenging and for the same distance on a plane, you get more work done or exercise on a mountain. Walking and climbing over uneven surfaces engage your core muscles and improve your foot-eye coordination and judgment.

I wondered that it couldn't just be the exercise benefit, there has got to be more. Why do you feel just so calm being in the mountains? Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health, and emotional well-being according to the American Psychological Association. The altitude itself has a positive influence on health. An active vacation at a moderate altitude (1500–2500 m) improves the quality of sleep, well-being, and physical recovery.

On the poetic side, John Muir said “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

With this thought, I am back to the memory of my trip to Banff and the fresh air......What's your best memory of a trip?

1. Schobersberger W., Leichtfried V., Mueck-Weymann M., Humpeler E. Austrian Moderate Altitude Studies (AMAS): Benefits of Exposure to Moderate Altitudes (1500–2500 m) Sleep Breath. 2010;14:201–207. doi: 10.1007/s11325-009-0286-y.

2. https://www.bluezones.com/

3. Arnberger A, Eder R, Allex B, Ebenberger M, Hutter HP, Wallner P, Bauer N, Zaller JG, Frank T. Health-Related Effects of Short Stays at Mountain Meadows, a River and an Urban Site-Results from a Field Experiment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Nov 26;15(12):2647. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15122647. PMID: 30486270; PMCID: PMC6313427.