Effective high-altitude hiking – from a South Tyrol study
Endurance athletes have long known that training at high altitude brings special benefits. Now a South Tyrolean study has confirmed that overweight people experience a more pronounced decrease in high risk factors with physical exercise at higher altitudes than they do at lower altitudes. Hiking at high altitudes has been shown to lower cardiovascular risk factors.
In autumn 2013, a pilot study was carried out by physicians from the health communities of Bressanone/Brixen, Merano/Meran, and Bolzano/Bozen, in which the effects of a two-week hiking holiday were examined on typical risk factors that can be measured in the blood in persons with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of physical and laboratory-chemical abnormalities, which is strongly associated with the development of grave cardiovascular disease. According to studies at Brunico/Bruneck, nearly 18 percent of all persons in South Tyrol between the ages of 40 and 80 are affected by it. A slight decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the air may increase the health-promoting effects of physical exercise in lowering risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
Health-promoting high-altitude hikes at Oberraindlhof
We offer attractive week-long packages during the entire summer for maintaining proper fitness and promoting good health. We’ll accompany you on a full week of healthy, high-altitude hikes.