Mountain life is good for you

If you want to live longer and lower the risk of heart disease, a move to the mountains may help. Greek scientists publishing in today's issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health say that living in the mountains lowers your odds of dying from heart disease compared with living closer to sea level.

The increased exercise from walking up mountainous terrain gives the heart a good workout and enables it to cope with lower levels of oxygen, the researchers say.

"Residence in mountainous areas seems to have a 'protective effect' from total and coronary mortality," says lead author Dr Nikos Baibas of the University of Athens.

Source - ABC Net