Have you ever dreamt of enjoying relaxing holidays in the mountains? Just imagine: the pristine air, long hikes, and the mild and cool climate (particularly during a sizzling hot summer) are all elements that would seem to be synonymous with ideal relaxation and wellness. Except you may soon realize that the quality of your sleep is disrupted. You sleep badly, much worse than you ever do at home, and you end up wondering why. There may be a scientific answer. To help us understand the causes of bad sleep in the mountains, we need to consider our physiology. The different blood oxygenation, quite evident if we climb higher than 1200 meters, affects our sleep by causing light moments of apnea, so that the saturation produced by the mountain air in our lungs drops even further. It’s a rather common condition which as such is also recognized with its own name: 'altitude insomnia'. The symptoms are the same: sleep apnea, frequent awakenings, drowsiness, and fatigue in the morning. This general feeling of malaise is also known as 'altitude sickness'. The body understands that its capacity is limited, so our heartbeat because more fast-paced, and the heart receives less oxygen but consumes more of it, causing a sort of widespread stress-induced tension. That’s why people who practice mountain climbing at a professional level usually proceed in steps when they have to climb mountain summits of varying altitude. A gradual approach allows the body to get accustomed to the surrounding environment. The first sensations you experience at high altitudes are headache along with vertigo, nausea, and vomiting, besides sleeplessness.