Link housing in green areas and improve heart health

(Reuters) – According to a small study, people living in neighborhoods with larger green spaces might be less stressed and more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those living in many green spaces .

Researchers from the American Heart Association report that in the general population, long-term green spaces in residential areas are associated with a long-term risk of death from heart disease, respiratory problems and to reduced risk of hospitalization for heart attacks and strokes.

But there is little evidence to show if this link is true at the individual level.

As part of this study, researchers tested a range of vital signs of stress and risk of heart disease in blood and urine samples in 408 patients from a Louisville Heart Hospital, in Kentucky. The researchers also used satellite data from NASA and the US Geological Survey to estimate the size of the green spaces where each person lives.

The study found that adrenaline levels in urine samples were lower than those living in green areas compared to people living in areas with a lower green zone indicating levels. lower stress. They also have an indicator of oxidative stress.

In addition, people living in greener areas were able to maintain healthy blood vessels compared to those living in restricted green areas.

"If the results of this study are confirmed, a continued interaction with nature could be one of the ways to reduce the risk of heart disease," said Arunny Patnagar, lead author of the study.