Researchers from Ecuador showed that those living at large altitudes above the sea level of people below the risk of stroke and death from it. The most strongly this useful effect manifested itself for a height of two to 3.5 kilometers. The article of scientists has been published in the log of Frontiers in Physiology.
Life on highlands is associated with low availability of oxygen for the body. People adapted to such conditions, however, as it affects the risk of developing a stroke, it was not studied. Researchers from the American University, together with colleagues from Great Britain, Spain and the United States analyzed almost 76 thousand cases of hospitalization and more than 38 thousand deaths from strokes that occurred in Ecuador from 2001 to 2017. People were divided into four groups in the height of their permanent residence: low (up to 1.5 kilometers), moderate (up to 2.5 kilometers), large (up to 3.5 kilometers) and very large (up to 5.5 kilometers).
It turned out that people living at a high altitude on average are insult at a later age than those who dwell “below.” Also, they have laid less cases of hospitalization and stroke deaths. However, this effect was naught after a height of 3.5 kilometers – which, according to researchers, can be explained by increased thrombosis due to excessive hypoxia.
Similar stability to stroke, scientists may be explained by a more developed vascular network in the brain in adapted to the high-alone people, and their increased abuse of growing new vessels.