Speleotherapy is a special kind of climate therapy that uses the specific microclimate of mines and caves to treat respiratory and skin related diseases in particular. Speleotherapy is relatively widespread in Europe. Speleotherapy facilities vary in their environmental conditions, including as regards radiation levels, temperature and humidity. Patients are advised to rest while spending time […]
Indication: asthma
Winter – non-snow-based activities
Winter hiking: Winter hiking is possible on all hiking trails that are walkable in winter. Calorie consumption per hour of winter hiking is around 250 kilocalories. Exercise in the sun and fresh air releases serotonin, the “happiness hormone”, which counteracts both physical stress reactions and the “winter blues”, thus lifting the mood. Winter hiking is […]
Medium altitude (1,000 – 2,500 metres)
In contrast to UV radiation, which increases with altitude and is associated with vitamin D synthesis, fine dust pollution reduces as the altitude increases. Furthermore, shorter flowering phases and more extreme weather conditions lead to a change in vegetation at higher altitudes, which in turn significantly reduces allergen concentrations compared to lower-lying natural habitats. The […]
Alpine farming and Alpine pastures – environmental microbes
The microbiome is currently a hot topic in both the scientific community and the mainstream media. Specifically as regards asthma, the accumulating evidence indicates that the environmental microbiome plays a significant role in asthma development. The very low prevalence of asthma in populations highly exposed to the microbiome indicates its potential for disease prevention. These […]