Iris Cole interviews Dr. Oren Tana about depression and its treatment (Walla system)
We are aware that nature is good for us, but how good?
A new study has found that going for a walk in a park, along a lake or even in an expanse of trees may reduce the need for medication for anxiety, asthma, depression, high blood pressure or insomnia.
The study found that visiting nature three to four times a week was associated with a 36 percent lower chance of using blood pressure pills, a 33 percent lower chance of using mental health medication, and a 26 percent lower chance of using asthma medication.
The study, published last month in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, interviewed about 6,000 random people in three of Finland's largest cities about their use of green and blue spaces within a kilometer of their homes.
Green areas included forests, gardens, parks, cemeteries, hills, natural grasslands, wetlands and zoos.
Blue spaces included lakes, rivers and seas.
Go outside, looking out the window is not enough.
Teva in the window (Photo: ShutterStock)
Previous studies have found that people who live near green spaces gain significant health benefits.
One such study conducted in 2016 compared the amount of plant life and vegetation near the homes of nearly 100,000 women.
After eight years, the researchers found that access to the greenest spaces reduced women's mortality rate by 12 percent—and improved their mental health.
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The new study also investigated the effect of being able to view green or blue spaces from home on medication use.
Looking at nature indoors through a window doesn't seem to work.
The researchers said that if you want to reap the full health benefits that nature can provide, you really need to visit there.
Despite this, they clarified that "if you don't have access to these places, simply seeing a green space (or maybe even experiencing virtual nature) is better than nothing."
health
Healthy life
Tags
depression
nature
Antidepressants
