Benefits of Alpine Living
Mountains have long been the place to feel more at peace with the larger world, whether by unwinding in the quiet or testing your mettle at the peaks. Mental and physical benefits aren’t just anecdotal, they’re confirmed by research. Time spent in mountain environments helps activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system: reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing rates of heart disease¹. Researchers found that of the top 20 U.S. counties with the highest life expectancy, eleven for men and five for women were located in Colorado and Utah.
Mountainous regions make recreation more attainable than ever, promoting active lifestyles and easing anxiety and depression, which, in combination with soothing natural environments, promote healthy aging.² Evidence from research in 2024³ indicates the hormesis (mild strain over time with beneficial outcomes) of altitude makes cells stronger and more resilient. Mountain living isn’t just scenic; it’s a foundation for healthier, longer, and more centered lives.
Sources
1: University of Colorado Denver. (2011, March 26). Living at high altitude reduces risk of dying from heart disease: Low oxygen may spur genes to create blood vesselsLow oxygen may spur genes to create blood vessels. ScienceDaily.
2: Hösl, B., Niedermeier, M., Burtscher, J., & Kopp, M. (n.d.). Psychological effects of mountainous environments over the life span and potential implications for healthy ageing: A narrative review.
3: Burtscher, J., & Samaja, M. (2024). Healthy Aging at Moderate Altitudes: Hypoxia and Hormesis. Gerontology.
4: Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (n.d.). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology.
5: Lopez-Pascual, A., Bes-Rastrollo, M., Sayón-Orea, C., Perez-Cornago, A., Díaz-Gutiérrez, J., Pons, J. J., Martínez-González, M. A., González-Muniesa, P., & Martínez, J. A. (2017). Living at a geographically higher elevation is associated with lower risk of metabolic syndrome: Prospective analysis of the SUN cohort. Frontiers in Physiology, 8.
