For body and mind

Mountain hiking: The healing powers of altitude

Mountain hiking as a fountain of youth(Bild: stock.adobe.com – Tomas)

New scientific findings prove that exercise in the mountains has a far greater effect than previously known. Not only the heart and circulation benefit, but also mood, metabolism and body weight.

Burgenlanders are out of luck when it comes to health with their beautiful but board-living expanses. According to a study by the Spanish University of Navarra, flatlanders like them are more at risk than those living at altitudes between 457 and 2297 meters above sea level. They have a lower risk of obesity, the unhealthy combination of high blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels and too much abdominal fat. The reason: everyday life and physical activity at altitude are known to have a positive effect on heart and lung function, regardless of the genetic background of the study participants.