ZURICH, Switzerland, Jul 31, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- People who live in the
Swiss Alps have fewer heart problems than those living in valleys, researchers
at Zurich University said.
Even being born at high altitudes decreased the risk of a heart attack or
stroke, researchers from the university's Institute of Social and Preventive
Medicine said this week in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart
Association.
The study examined death from cardiovascular disease in relation to the altitude
of the place of residence in 1990 and at birth for 1.6 million people living in
Switzerland.
The risk of dying of a heart attack decreased by 22 percent for every 1,093
yards of increase in altitude, the study's lead author, David Fah, said. The
risk of stroke decreased by 12 percent for every 1,093 yards of increase in
altitude, SwissInfo reported Friday.
The researchers had yet to determine why altitude was beneficial for hearts or
pinpoint how long someone would need to stay at a higher altitude before feeling
the benefits.
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