Vacation at moderate and low altitude improves perceived health in individuals with metabolic syndrome

A comparison of quality of life between older adults living in high and low altitude areas

Background

High altitude is known to have a significant impact on human physiology and health, therefore, understanding its relationship with quality of life is an important research area. This study compared the quality of life (QOL) in older adults living in high and low altitude areas, and examined the independent correlates of QOL in those living in a high altitude area.

Methods

Older adults living in three public nursing homes in Xining (high altitude area) and one public nursing home in Guangzhou (low altitude area) were recruited. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to measure the QOL.

Results

644 older adults (male: 39.1%) were included, with 207 living in high altitude and 437 living in low altitude areas. After controlling for the covariates, older adults living in the high altitude area had higher QOL in terms of physical (P = 0.035) and social domains (P = 0.002), but had lower QOL in psychological (P = 0.009) domain compared to their counterparts living in the low altitude area. For older adults living in the high altitude area, smoking status was associated with higher social QOL (P = 0.021), good financial status was associated with higher physical QOL (P = 0.035), and fair or good health status was associated with higher physical (p < 0.001) and psychological QOL (P = 0.046), while more severe depressive symptoms were associated with lower QOL.

Conclusion

Appropriate interventions and support to improve depressive symptoms and both financial and health status should be developed for older adults living in high altitude areas to improve their QOL.

Physiological and pathophysiological aspects of short-term middle-altitude adaptation in humans

The review presents up-to-date information on the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of short-term middle-altitude adaptation in healthy individuals and patients with various chronic diseases. Unlike acute mountain sickness, which develops going to ≥3000, the physiological aspects of human adaptation to 2000-2500 m remain insufficiently studied. However, these altitudes are the most visited among tourist groups and individually.

Physiological and pathophysiological aspects of short-term middle-altitude adaptation in humans

The review presents up-to-date information on the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of short-term middle-altitude adaptation in healthy individuals and patients with various chronic diseases. Unlike acute mountain sickness, which develops going to ≥3000, the physiological aspects of human adaptation to 2000-2500 m remain insufficiently studied. However, these altitudes are the most visited among tourist groups and individually.

Valorization of natural cardio trekking trails through open innovation for promotion of sustainable cross-generational, health-oriented tourism during the Connect2Move project: study design (Preprint)

Background

Hiking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the alpine region. However, besides its health benefits, hiking is the alpine activity with the highest incidence of cardiac events. Most incidents occur due to overexertion or underestimation of the physiological strain of hiking.

Objective

This project will establish a standardized cardio trekking test trail to evaluate the exercise capacity of tourists within hiking areas and deliver a tool for the prevention of hiking-associated cardiac incidents. Further, individual exercise intensity for a hiking tour will be predicted and visualized in digital maps.

Methods

This cooperation study between Austria and Germany will first validate a 1-km outdoor cardio trekking test trail at 2 different study sites. Then, exercise intensity measures on 8-km hiking trails will be evaluated during hiking to estimate overall hiking intensity. A total of 144 healthy adults (aged >45 years) will perform a treadmill test in the laboratory and a 1-km hiking test outdoors. They will wear a portable spirometry device that measures gas exchange, as well as heart rate, walking speed, ventilation, GPS location, and altitude throughout the tests. Estimation models for exercise capacity based on measured parameters will be calculated.

Results

The project “Connect2Move” was funded in December 2019 by the European Regional Development Fund (INTERREG V-A Programme Austria-Bavaria – 2014-2020; Project Number AB296). “Connect2Move” started in January 2020 and runs until the end of June 2022. By the end of April 2022, 162 participants were tested in the laboratory, and of these, 144 were tested outdoors. The data analysis will be completed by the end of June 2022, and results are expected to be published by the end of 2022.

Conclusions

Individual prediction of exercise capacity in healthy individuals with interest in hiking aims at the prevention of hiking-associated cardiovascular events caused by overexertion. Integration of a mathematical equation into existing hiking apps will allow individual hiking route recommendations derived from individual performance on a standardized cardio trekking test trail.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrails.gov NCT05226806; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05226806

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/39038

Is a meditation retreat the better vacation? effect of retreats and vacations on fatigue, emotional well-being, and acting with awareness

It is well established that leisure vacations markedly improve well-being, but that these effects are only of short duration. The present study aimed to investigate whether vacation effects would be more lasting if individuals practiced meditation during the leisure episode. Meditation is known to improve well-being durably, among others, by enhancing the mental faculty of mindfulness. In this aim, leisure vacations during which individuals practiced meditation to some extent were compared with holidays not including any formal meditation practice as well as with meditation retreats (characterized by intense meditation practice) utilizing a naturalistic observational design. Fatigue, well-being, and mindfulness were assessed ten days before, ten days after, and ten weeks after the stays in a sample of 120 individuals accustomed to meditation practices. To account for differences in the experience of these stays, recovery experiences were additionally assessed. Ten days after the stay, there were no differences except for an increase in mindfulness for those practicing meditation. Ten weeks after the stay, meditation retreats and vacations including meditation were associated with greater increases in mindfulness, lower levels of fatigue, and higher levels of well-being than an "ordinary" vacation during which meditation was not practiced. The finding suggests that the inclusion of meditation practice during vacation could help alleviate vacations' greatest pitfall, namely the rapid decline of its positive effects.

Comparison of rest‐break interventions during a mentally demanding task

Research is scarce on ways to enhance the effect of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks. The present study investigated the effectiveness of two rest-break interventions on well-being during an academic lecture. Sixty-six students (53 females, mean age 22.5 years) enrolled in two different university classes of 4-hr duration participated in the study. Two measures of well-being (fatigue and vigor) were assessed immediately before, after, and 20 minutes after the break. A control condition without a break as well as an unstructured break was compared with breaks either encompassing physical activity or a relaxation exercise. Compared with the nonbreak condition, the unstructured rest break led to an increase in vigor, the exercise break as well as the relaxation break both to an increase in vigor and a decrease in fatigue at 20-min post break. Compared with the unstructured break, exercise led to an (additional) increase in vigor and relaxation to an (additional) decrease in fatigue at 20-min post break. Thus, the effects of rest breaks during mentally demanding tasks can be enhanced by engaging in physical activity or relaxation exercises, with effects lasting at least as long as 20 min into the continuation of the task.

Pilot study on the effects of a 2-week hiking vacation at moderate versus low altitude on plasma parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background

Hypoxic and hypobaric conditions may augment the beneficial influence of training on cardiovascular risk factors. This pilot study aimed to explore for effects of a two-week hiking vacation at moderate versus low altitude on adipokines and parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Methods

Fourteen subjects (mean age: 55.8 years, range: 39 – 69) with metabolic syndrome participated in a 2-week structured training program (3 hours of guided daily hiking 4 times a week, training intensity at 55-65% of individual maximal heart rate; total training time, 24 hours). Participants were divided for residence and training into two groups, one at moderate altitude (1,900 m; n = 8), and the other at low altitude (300 m; n = 6). Anthropometric, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters were measured before and after the training period.

Results

In study participants, training overall reduced circulating levels of total cholesterol (p = 0.024), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.025) and adiponectin (p < 0.001). In the group training at moderate altitude (n = 8), lowering effects on circulating levels were significant not only for total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin (all, p < 0.05) but also for triglycerides (p = 0.025) and leptin (p = 0.015), whereas in the low altitude group (n = 6), none of the lipid parameters was significantly changed (each p > 0.05). Hiking-induced relative changes of triglyceride levels were positively associated with reductions in leptin levels (p = 0.006). As compared to 300 m altitude, training at 1,900 m showed borderline significant differences in the pre-post mean reduction rates of triglyceride (p = 0.050) and leptin levels (p = 0.093).

Conclusions

Preliminary data on patients with metabolic syndrome suggest that a 2-week hiking vacation at moderate altitude may be more beneficial for adipokines and parameters of lipid metabolism than training at low altitude. In order to draw firm conclusions regarding better corrections of dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome by physical exercise under mild hypobaric and hypoxic conditions, a sufficiently powered randomized clinical trial appears warranted.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT02013947 (first received November 6, 2013).

The relationship between nature-based tourism and autonomic nervous system function among older adults

BACKGROUND

Nature-based tourism has recently become a topic of interest in health research. This study was aimed at examining relationships among nature-based tourism, stress, and the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

METHODS

Three hundred and twenty-two older adults living in Taichung City, Taiwan, were selected as participants. Data were collected by a face-to-face survey that included measures of the frequency of participation in domestic and international nature-based tourism and the stress and ANS function of these participants. The data were analyzed using a path analysis.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the frequency of participation in domestic nature-based tourism directly contributed to ANS function and that it also indirectly contributed to ANS function through stress reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Domestic nature-based tourism can directly and indirectly contribute to ANS function among older adults. Increasing the frequency of participation in domestic nature-based tourism should be considered a critical element of health programs for older adults.

Travel-related change of residence leads to a transitory stress reaction in humans

OBJECTIVE

It is well known that animals show a stress response when confronted with a novel environment. The aim of the this study was to investigate whether humans show a similar response by studying the reaction to a travel-related transitory change of residence.

METHOD

Forty-eight individuals (32 women, 16 men, age 40-83 years) traveling to a health resort approximately 120 km from their home town participated in the study. Individuals monitored their blood pressure (BP) twice a day 3 weeks before (baseline) and during the stay and filled out a diary stating their mood and sleep. The change of the variables relative to baseline on the day before departure, the travel day, and the day after arrival as well as 5 days after arrival were determined.

RESULTS

Systolic and diastolic BPs were increased on the day before travel and diastolic BP remained increased on the travel day and the day after arrival. Sleep was poorer during the first night at the new residence. All three variables had returned to baseline level 5 days into the stay. Mood was not affected by the change of residence.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that not only the change of residence but also its anticipation affects individuals in a transient way. The findings are relevant not only for the basic understanding of the reaction to novel environments but also to travel, tourism as well as rehabilitation, and spa-research.

Austrian Moderate Altitude Studies (AMAS): benefits of exposure to moderate altitudes (1,500-2,500 m)

OBJECTIVES

A considerable part of the millions of Alpine tourists suffer from pre-existing diseases (e.g., metabolic syndrome) and high daily stress levels. The main goal of the Austrian Moderate Altitude Study (AMAS) was to investigate (a) the consequences of an active vacation at moderate altitude on the key parameters of the metabolic syndrome (AMAS I) and (b) the effects of a short active vacation on adult progenitor cells, bio-psychological parameters, and heart rate variability (HRV).

METHODS

During the AMAS I pilot study (n = 22; 1,700 m a.s.l.) and AMAS I main study (n = 71; 1,700 m a.s.l. and 200 m a.s.l.), the volunteers simulated 3-week coached hiking vacations. For AMAS II, healthy volunteers (n = 13) participated in a 1-week active holiday at 1,700 m.

RESULTS

There were significant improvements of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance of AMAS I patients after the vacation. In AMAS II participants, we found an increase in circulating endothelial progenitor cells as well as improvements in bio-psychological and HRV parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Active vacations at moderate altitude are associated with a variety of positive health effects in persons with metabolic syndrome and in healthy subjects.

Effect of vacation on health: moderating factors of vacation outcome

BACKGROUND

Vacation has recently become a topic of interest in health research as both beneficial and adverse health effects have been documented. The present study was aimed at identifying vacation characteristics predicting health-related vacation outcome.

METHODS

One hundred ninety-one predominantly white-collar employees (109 female, 82 males; mean age 37.8 yr, range 16-62 yr) received a questionnaire in the week after vacation assessing subject characteristics, physical vacation characteristics, the individual structuring of the day, health and social behavior, and stress during vacation as well as the perceived change of recuperation and exhaustion from before to after a vacation. Regression analysis was used to identify variables predicting vacation outcome.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven percent of the variance of the change of recuperation and 15% of the change of exhaustion could be explained. Recuperation was facilitated by free time for one's self, warmer (and sunnier) vacation locations, exercise during vacation, good sleep, and making new acquaintances, especially among vacationers reporting higher levels of prevacation work strain. Exhaustion was increased by vacation-related health problems and a greater time-zone difference to home, and was reduced by warmer vacation locations.

CONCLUSION

Health-related vacation outcome is significantly affected by the way an individual organizes his or her vacation.