Green I love you green , the poet used to say in his Sleepwalking Romance. And we are going to like that color even more starting today, since, according to a study by the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine , a high concentration of green spaces in the cities is linked to a significant reduction in chronic disease cases .
Researchers have pointed out, in particular, that green areas, with grass, trees or any other type of vegetation, positively influence the population living nearby to suffer lower rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia (closely linked to, for example, elevated cholesterol levels).
The results are based on data related to the health of about 250,000 people in Miami-Dade County (Florida) who are beneficiaries of the American health insurance program Medicare (all of them 65 years or older) and collected in the years 2010 and 2011 Likewise, the presence of vegetation in each of the zones was analyzed, the density of which was calculated through images captured by satellite.
According to this study, a higher level of green areas was associated with 49 fewer chronic diseases per 1,000 people and with a reduction in the chances of suffering from diabetes by 14%, hypertension by 13% and hyperlipidemia by 10%. Likewise, the research indicates that the effects of the relationship to more green areas plus health are especially strong and consistent in the inhabitants of neighborhoods with a medium and low economic level, more than in those with high incomes.
The results of this study reinforce the hypothesis of the positive impact that green areas have on our health. The key could be found in that these spaces invite us to lead a less sedentary life and, therefore, increase opportunities for physical activity, allow us to interact socially with others and also reduce stress, pollution levels and noise pollution. .
