Living at high altitude may keep heart disease at bay--study

Researchers at the University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine in collaboration with the Harvard School of Global Health have found that compared to people who reside near sea-level, men lived 1.2. to 3.6 years more and women lived 0.5 to 2.5 years longer.

"If living in a lower oxygen environment such as in our Colorado mountains helps reduce the risk of dying from heart disease it could help us develop new clinical treatments for those conditions," said Professor Benjamin Honigman at the CU School of Medicine.

"Lower oxygen levels turn on certain genes and we think those genes may change the way heart muscles function. They may also produce new blood vessels that create new highways for blood flow into the heart," he said.

However, he said, better synthesize of vitamin D, which has proved beneficial for heart and some forms of cancer, at higher altitude by our body could also be the reason behind the observation.

Data from U.S. county
Researchers spent four years analyzing death certificates from every county in the U.S. They examined cause of death, socio-economic factors, and other issues in their research.

The study found that of the top 20 counties with a mean elevation of 5,967 feet above sea-level and the highest life expectancy, eleven for men and five for women were located in Colorado and Utah.

The men lived between 75.8 and 78.2 years, while women ranged from 80.5 to 82.5 years.

Higher altitudes may be harmful for heart
Considering socio-economic factors, solar radiation, smoking and pulmonary disease, the net effect of altitude on overall life expectancy was negligible.

At the same time, the research showed that altitudes above 4,900 feet were detrimental to those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

"Even modestly lower oxygen levels in people with already impaired breathing and gas exchange may exacerbate hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension (leading to death)," the study said.

"We want to now look at these diseases in a more focused way so we can see the mechanisms behind hypoxia and why they affect the body the way they do," Honigman said, hoping the research will help people lead healthier lives.

The study was published in the 'Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.'