Greenery improves well-being
The study,published in a reputed magazine called The Lancet said that cities should introduce more greenery to improve well-being.Health professionals have for long said that there are "Health inequalities" related to income and social deprivation,which generally reflect differences in lifestyle,diet,and,to some extent,access to medical care.This means that in general,people living in poorer areas are more likely to be unhealthy,and die earlier.Now the researchers have found that living near parks,woodland or other open spaces helped reduce these inequalities,regardless of social class.When the records of more than 3.5 lakh people were analysed,it revealed that even tiny green spaces in the areas in which they lived made a big difference to their risk of fatal diseases.Although the effect was greatest for those living surrounded by the most greenery,with the "Health Gap" roughly halved compared with those with the fewest green spaces around them,there was still a noticeable difference.
Encourages active lifestyle
The presence of green spaces encourages people to be more active and other studies have suggested that contact with green spaces also helped reduce blood pressure and stress levels,perhaps even promoting faster healing after surgery.
They wrote: "The implications of this study are clear-environments that promote good health migh be crucial in the fight to reduce health inequalities."
The called for planning authorities to consider making more green spaces available to improve the health and well-being of their residents.Dr Terry Hartig,from the institute for housing and urban research at Uppsala University in Sweden,wrote in an accompanying article: "This study offers valuable evidence that green space does more that 'pretty up' the neighbourhood-it appears to have real effects on health inequality,of a kind that politicians and health authorities should take seriously."
Environmentalists maintain that the study confirms what they have been saying for many years-parks are important for health and everyone should have access to high quality,beautiful and vibrant green spaces.
Maintain Green Spaces
We must maintain green spaces around our homes-even bringing in greenery in the form of potted plants helps to keep us in touch with nature,which in turn makes us stay healthy.Have you been helping your mother water your plants?The next time you go out and play in a park or a garden,remember that while you are exercising,you are also improving your health by being in the green areas.
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