Recently, a team of researchers came to the conclusion that people that live near green areas like forests have a lower risk of stroke. Their research determined that people in these regions are 16 percent less likely to suffer from a stroke than people that live in city areas or places without much greenery.
For the purposes of this study, living near green space was defined as within 300 meters from their home. The more green space near someone’s home, the more positive the impact upon their health.
And really, this makes a lot of sense. Cities and urban areas in general tend to have more air pollution, which has an impact on health factors. Living in areas with greener space inevitably means that there will be less air pollution, and therefore fewer contaminants being breathed in that can have a negative impact on someone’s health. Logically, that the risk of stroke would go down for those that live in these environments makes a lot of sense.
This study was conducted in Catalonia between 2016 and 2017. They looked at things like traffic rates and air pollution while conducting this research. The team published their findings in the journal, Environment International.
Relocation isn’t a reality for most people. Asking someone to relocate so that they can be closer to a forest or a park is not realistic, especially those that have lived their entire lives in urban areas. It is expensive and for those that struggle with getting around or suffer from cognitive decline will place undue amounts of physical and emotional stress on someone. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that can be completely avoided. But being aware of the impact of nitrogen dioxide and air pollution on health provides us with a starting point for helping people.
There’s a lot more research that needs to be done on air pollution and helping people to avoid the negative impacts of it on people’s health. Hopefully, this continues to move forward because no one deserves to be at a higher risk of health issues simply because of where they live.
Finding the right senior care for a loved one, regardless of their health issues, can be a huge weight off your shoulders. Whether they’ve had a stroke, suffer from dementia, or have any other sort of difficulty getting through the day safely, knowing that the right caregiver is on your side can make each day a lot easier to get through. Supporting a loved one with a disability is never easy, but when you have a skilled team on your side it becomes a lot easier.
We’d love to be part of that team for you. Whether it’s providing advice through our free consultation service or providing in-home care to a loved one, we have a lot to offer and help your family on your care journey. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you might have. One of our professional caregivers would love to help connect you with the right resources for your family’s unique situation.
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