New research that associated having green spaces close by with a 16-percent drop in stroke risk specified that green areas give a person more than just a place to stretch his legs, but they affect the chances of suffering stroke.
In a ScienceAlert report, for this new study, the adjacent green spaces were counted as those within a fifth of a mile or 300 meters from home.
Data taken from the public healthcare system covering over 3.5 million adults in the Catalonia region of Spain were gathered between 2016 and 2017.
While data don't reveal that green spaces are the direct reason for stroke risk reduction, researchers have noted that the link is strong enough to warrant further examination and back up the notion that having more nature around is advantageous to human health.
3 Atmosphere Pollutants Examined
According to neurologist Carla Avellaneda, from IMIM-Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, the study, published in Environment International, demonstrates the essentiality of "environmental determinants in stroke risk.
Given that, he explained, it is forecasted that the "incidence, mortality and disability attributed to the illness" will rise in the coming years, it is essential to understand all the risk factors involved.
Greenery, as well as natural spaces, can improve health in a number of ways. Specifically, they can lessen stress, give people places to exercise, and shield mental health. It appears that there is also some effect on the possibility of cerebrovascular problems.
There are several more factors to consider compared to nearby greenery. The researchers also looked at three-atmosphere pollutants in the same research. These include nitrogen dioxide or NO2, particulate matter under 2.5 microns or PM2.5, and soot particles.
Link to Greater Risk of Stroke
As found in past research, published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, more exposure to such pollutants was associated with a greater risk of stroke. For instance, in this recent assessment, for every increase of 10 micrograms of NO2 per cubic meter, the risk increases by four percent.
Environmental epidemiologist Cathryn Tonne, a researcher at ISGlobal, said, "It should be borne in mind that," different from other air pollutants, which have different sources, NO2 is primarily caused by road traffic.
Therefore, she added, if one wants to lessen the multiple risks that this pollutant poses to the health of people, there is a need to implement bold measures to decrease car use.
The Need to Strive to Achieve More Sustainable Towns and Cities
Such links between green space and stroke risk, and air pollutants and stroke risk, have been recorded and reported before, although few past research has looked at such a large specimen size and gone into as much detail in looking at both greenery and air quality nearby.
Further studies could examine exactly the reason more green space in an area appears to play into reducing the risk of stroke for those living there.
The links between stroke risk, pollutants, and green space stayed even when controlling for socioeconomic factors, smoking habits, and age, suggesting a price to pay when it comes to health when one chooses to live in urban areas.
According to neurologist Jaume Roquer, also from IMM-Hospital del mar, there is a need to achieve more sustainable cities and towns where living does not mean an increased risk of illness like stroke.
Related information about stroke risk factors is shown on Cleveland Clinic Martin Health's YouTube video below:
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