High Altitude and Health
Improving health, oxygen therapy, sleep quality
What are the health benefits of high altitude?
The following physiological benefits have been proven to occur as a result of hypoxia:
- Decreased Resting Heart Rate (RHR)
- Decreased Blood Pressure (BP)
- Increased Erythropoietin (EPO) Production
- Increased Maximal Oxygen Consumption (VO2 Max)
- Increased Lactate Threshold
- Increased Mitochondrial Production
- Increased Fat Metabolism
Altitude Training and Weight Loss
A study on high altitude and the weight loss effect concluded that those living at sea level are 4 to 5 times more likely to be obese than those living in high-altitude communities. The weight loss effect at altitude is the result of an accelerated metabolic rate and burning more calories to meet the increased energy requirements needed to adapt to the altitude environment. As the body begins to adapt to the altitude conditions, leptin (satiety hormone) level increases while ghrelin (hunger hormone) remains the same. After intense exercise, the accelerated metabolic rate and the increased calorie burning and feeling of fullness become permanent. These effects fulfill the optimal conditions in the human body for accelerated weight loss.
Being in a hypoxic environment will potentially help you go faster and further, get tired later, react faster, think sharper, feel stronger and get more focused.
Many of the world’s longest-living civilizations have lived at altitudes of more than 3000m. This link between altitude and health is not a coincidence, and researchers are beginning to uncover the science behind this mystery. In the last 20 years, modern medicine has also linked high altitude to the lower incidence of many chronic diseases in those living permanently at high altitudes.
Even if you don’t live in high altitude, nowadays technology provides an opportunity to train or be present in high altitude environment without physically being in mountains and benefit from its effects. The combination of all the positive physiological effects associated with altitude training provides an intense feeling of rejuvenation both in mind and body. Each session will revitalize you and leave you feeling energized and happy for the rest of the day.
Altitude for Asthma Patients
Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease of unknown cause. Even if there is no consensus on the cause of asthma, there are ways to control the symptoms of this chronic disease.
Asthma patients have lower CO2 levels than in normal blood as a result of rapid breathing (hyperventilation). However, rapid breathing also triggers chronic bronchial inflammation in patients. Therefore, the key to successful treatment is to reduce hyperventilation and improve oxygen utilization.
As a complementary treatment for asthma, high-altitude practice offers significant benefits over conventional symptomatic treatments. Patients are less affected by negative side effects such as increased blood pressure, osteoporosis and weight gain. Asthma attacks are prevented before they occur, thereby reducing asthma-related lung damage in patients. Thanks to an IHT program tailored to each patient, patients with bronchial asthma experience the following benefits:
- Positively affected immune status
- Reduction of asthma attacks and chronic bronchial inflammation
- Enhanced enzymatic anti-oxidative defense
- Increased Range of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
- Increasing Forced Expiratory Velocity (FEV)
- Reduction/elimination of symptoms of other diseases triggered by asthma.
- Decreased feeling of fatigue
- Feeling more vigorous and improved quality of life
Altitude for General Health and Recovery
High altitude applications are made for the purpose of benefits in many areas of use. It is also widely used in facilities such as accommodation rooms in hotels and SPA centers. In such facilities, some of the benefits in terms of Recovery and Regeneration, which is the primary purpose of use, are listed below.
When returning to normal altitude after the session:
- It provides an increase in mental and physical performance in all kinds of physical activities of the individual.
- Increase in attention level and focus
- It provides rapid relief from jetlag – like fatigue symptoms.
- Accelerates recovery from post-Covid19 syndromes.
- It is used to treat insomnia.
- At altitude, 1 hour of sleep is equivalent to 8 hours of sleep.
- Reduces symptoms and provides measurable improvement in asthma, COPD and lung diseases.
- It prevents the complications of diabetes and obesity by preventing symptoms as well as it aids in healing these deseases.
- Accelerates healing in spinal cord and joint injuries.
- It shortens recovery periods after injury or surgery.
- Its contribution to weight loss is quite high with its metabolism acceleration and the feeling of satiety it creates.
- Increases sexual performance.
