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A new study finds that walking in parks, lakes, and tree-lined streets may reduce the need for medications for anxiety, asthma, depression, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
“When green space availability or active use is considered, physical activity is believed to be an important mediator in the health benefits of green space,” said the study. Co-author Anu Turunen, senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare in Helsinki, said in an email:
The study found that visiting nature 3-4 times a week was 36% less likely to use blood pressure medication, 33% less likely to use mental health medication, and 33% less likely to use asthma medication. We found a 26% drop.
“Analysis can reveal important associations, but whether it was the proximity to green spaces that reduced drug use,” said Lincoln Larson, an associate professor at the University of Natural Resources in North Carolina. Or if it was due to the use of green spaces, I can’t say for sure.” Raleigh University not involved in research.
“People who were healthier (and less likely to take prescription drugs) to begin with may have been more likely to be outdoors in the first place,” Larson said in an email.
the study, Published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Monday, January 16interviewed approximately 6,000 random people in three large Finnish cities about their use of green and blue spaces within 1 km of their homes.
Green spaces include forests, gardens, parks, cemeteries, bogs, natural grasslands, marshes, and zoos. The blue space contained lakes, rivers and oceans.
Previous studies have found that people living near green spaces have significant health benefits.Ah 2016 research We compared plant life and vegetation abundance near the homes of nearly 100,000 women. Eight years later, researchers found that having access to the most green space reduced women’s mortality by 12% and improved their mental health.
Ah 2019 survey of green spaces around the world It turns out that people who live nearby are less likely to die prematurely. As CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explored in an episode of his podcast series Chasing Life, even doctors are beginning to prescribe natural remedies as treatments for mental health.
A new study also explored the effects of being able to see green or blue spaces from home on drug use. Observing nature indoors didn’t seem to work.
“Looking at nature didn’t change anything, but actually experiencing it didn’t change anything. Other studies have come to similar conclusions,” he said. Benefits of public parks A nationwide survey of urban well-being was conducted.
“If you want to maximize the health benefits that nature can offer, Immerse yourself in those settings,” He said.
Although research has yet to show a true relevance, Larson still believes in the benefits of seeing nature as well as experiencing it.
“If you don’t have access to these places, simply seeing green spaces (or even experiencing virtual nature) is better than nothing,” he added.
You can also put plants on your desk.Ah 2019 survey It turns out that taking care of plants at work slightly reduces stress for workers in Japan. According to the study, objective measurements showed a significant reduction in resting heart rate in 27% of his workers.
