TL;DR
Urban green spaces are more than just pretty to look at. They improve cardiovascular health by reducing air pollution, cooling the air, and relieving stress.
Green spaces do more than just look good.
Green spaces in urban areas do far more than simply look pretty – they add a lot of health benefits. In fact, they can make a measurable impact on cardiovascular health. As roughly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States stems from heart disease, this is important to a lot of people. Yet, while most are aware that diet and exercise are beneficial for cardiovascular health, very few people understand the connection between green spaces and heart health. If your public health data indicate cardiovascular disease is a concern, here are 3 ways urban green spaces impact cardiovascular health.
1) Green spaces improve air quality.
Air pollution is comprised of tiny particles and gases. Increases in air particulates have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Air pollution has been associated with increased hospitalizations for heart disease and is also associated with atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of plaque on artery walls. Given the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, it is very beneficial to improve air quality. This is where green spaces can help, as trees and other vegetation are able to filter pollutants from the air. In addition to the biological activity of the plants, the way they are planted also can help reduce air pollution. Planting roadside vegetation thickly together, with no gaps, has been shown to reduce downwind pollution by affecting air turbulence from wind and traffic.
2) Green spaces reduce heat.
Excessive heat is never fun but, in terms of cardiovascular health, it’s a big concern. The added stress of needing to cool you down places a large burden on your heart. If you already have heart disease, heat can lead to blood clots and heart attacks. Heat also worsens air quality by increasing ozone, which is associated with increased hospital admissions for stroke and acute myocardial infarction. Given the preponderance of asphalt, concrete, and brick in urban areas, it is no surprise that they are much hotter than surrounding areas. The answer to this, of course, is adding trees and other plants. Trees provide cooling shade and all plants cool the air through evapotranspiration.
3) Green spaces improve mental health.
Depression and anxiety exacerbate cardiovascular disease. In fact, the American Heart Association considers depression a risk factor for poor prognosis after a heart attack. It has also been shown that mental health issues and heart disease are a bidirectional path. In other words, heart disease is likely to make a person depressed – but a depressed person is also more likely to have heart disease. Greenery presents a solution to this, as well, since green spaces have been shown to decrease depression, anxiety, and common psychiatric disorders. Research also suggests that the more biodiverse an urban forest is, the better the impact on mental health.
Design urban green spaces to positively impact cardiovascular health.
Greenery is not just a “nice to have” – it’s essential to heart health. When designing city spaces and projects, consider the health impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods. By increasing the green spaces in your design, you can directly impact the cardiovascular health of the entire community.
Photo by Luke on Unsplash