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Green Spaces Make You Healthier

People who live near vegetation suffer fewer diseases

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 15, 2009 6:25 PM CDT

(Newser) – People who live close to parks or other “green spaces” are likely to be healthier, a new study suggests. Dutch researchers scoured the health records of 345,000 people, comparing their health status to the amount of green space in the surrounding area, from a half-mile to 2-mile radius. Of 24 health conditions—including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological diseases—people living in purely urban areas suffered higher instances of 15 of them, notes HealthDay.

The connection is strongest with anxiety disorders and depression—instances of these diseases were nearly twice as high in people who lived in areas with 10% green space compared to people in areas with 90% green space. "As health-care costs spiral out of control, it behooves us to think about our green space in terms of preventive health care,” says a dean at Texas A&M.

The sun hits peak fall foliage colors in the White Mountain National Forest in Twin Mountain, N.H., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.
The sun hits peak fall foliage colors in the White Mountain National Forest in Twin Mountain, N.H., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
The sun hits peak fall foliage colors in the White Mountain National Forest in Twin Mountain, N.H., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.
The sun hits peak fall foliage colors in the White Mountain National Forest in Twin Mountain, N.H., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
The sun hits peak fall foliage colors in the White Mountain National Forest in Twin Mountain, N.H., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.
The sun hits peak fall foliage colors in the White Mountain National Forest in Twin Mountain, N.H., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Derni
Oct 16, 2009 12:50 PM CDT
2 years and green space here I come--if I have health care!
Snowleopard
Oct 16, 2009 11:43 AM CDT
At the risk of making this more political than it needs to be, I do agree with Fondue here. There's a constant stream of attacks on public spaces in the U.S. from the libertarian movement, which is often against any kind of government protection and investment in parks and forests. Studies like this show the importance of preserving such places.
SilenceDogood
Oct 16, 2009 9:06 AM CDT
Bozo, how very well put, the schizoid polar behavior of this blog turns automatically into rants that constantly debase what otherwise could be meaningful discussions. I personally hope that the moderators of Newser would flag some of these nonsense, meaningless tirades for the greater good; but alas the neo-cons would claim 1st amendment rights. So therefore the strengths and weaknesses of America prevail, land of the free, home of the brave, and hospice to the mentally challenged.

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