Short Vacation Improves Stress-Level and Well-Being in German-Speaking Middle-Managers-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Stress in the work place has a detrimental effect on people's health. Sufficient recovery is necessary to counteract severe chronic negative load reactions. Previous research has shown that vacationing for at least seven consecutive days provided an efficient recovery strategy.

Effects of hiking at moderate and low altitude on cardiovascular parameters in male patients with metabolic syndrome: Austrian Moderate Altitude Study.

Objective: Physical activity is a cornerstone in therapy for patients with metabolic syndrome. Walking and hiking in a mountain scenery represents an ideal approach to make them move. The Austrian Moderate Altitude Study (AMAS) 2000 main study is a randomized controlled trial to investigate the cardiovascular effects of hiking at moderate altitude on patients with metabolic syndrome compared with a control group at low altitude, to assess a potential altitude-specific effect.

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.

Increased levels of circulating progenitor cells after 1-week sojourn at moderate altitude (Austrian Moderate Altitude Study II, AMAS II).

We wanted to test if a sojourn at moderate altitude can activate circulation of adult progenitor cells in healthy individuals. Thus, we investigated 11 healthy volunteers, who spent 1-week at 1700 m (Oberlech, Austria,) simulating an active holiday. We measured circulating CD34(+) progenitor cell populations by flow cytometry and cytokines (using ELISA) in peripheral blood at baseline (500 m) and at the end of the sojourn.

3-week hiking holidays at moderate altitude do not impair cardiac function in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

We studied the influence of a 3-week hiking vacation at moderate altitude on cardiac pump and endocrine function. 18 males (mean age: 55 years, range 36-60) with metabolic syndrome participated in a 3-week structured guided hiking vacation program (4 times per week at 55-65% of maximal heart rate, total exercise time 29 h). Echocardiography, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), NT-proBNP, and endothelin-1 measurements were performed at baseline in Innsbruck (576 m a.