Cardiology: Benefits of Nature

There are many cardiovascular benefits to being outdoors. One article, "3 Ways Getting Outside Into Nature Helps Improve Your Health," by UC Davis Health, discusses the general purpose nature plays in managing our general health, along with focusing on cardio-specific health benefits. According to the article, studies have shown "that being in nature has a positive effect on our bodies by reducing cortisol levels, muscle tension, and demands on our cardiovascular systems (lowers heart rate and blood pressure). Being out in nature may often lead to lower rates of heart disease" (UC Davis Health, 2023). At first glance, these benefits may seem to require a wilderness-based lifestyle. However, other studies have shown that this type of cardiovascular health does not require someone to live in some rural area covered in lush woods and flower-strewn fields to enjoy, appreciate, and gain, but rather, is achievable in urban environments as well.

According to the article, "Associations of Urban Blue and Green Spaces With Coronary Artery Calcification in Black Individuals and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods" by Lifang Hou M.D., P.H.D., "researchers found that living in an urban environment with access to nature can decrease your chances of developing coronary artery calcification (CAC). CAC occurs when calcium builds up as plaque in the walls of your heart’s coronary arteries. It is an early sign of heart disease and can also cause heart attack" (Kim et al., 2024). Thus, the benefits of nature do not necessarily require an outdoorsman to achieve.

She offers other ideas for potential outdoor cardiovascular-benefiting experiences, including "seek out local parks for regular visits, make a nearby lake or river (if you have one) a destination for walks, take your lunch breaks outdoors in a green space near your workplace, plan weekend nature walks, incorporate indoor plants into your home or office décor, and attend outdoor fitness classes held in parks" (Kim et al., 2024). By participating in outdoor activities such as these it can create "the protective effect of having access to urban blue and green spaces with coronary artery calcification highlighted in our study underscore the potential benefits of green and blue spaces, particularly for underserved populations at higher risk for cardiovascular disease,” (Kim et al., 2024). With this in mind, anyone can achieve the benefits of the outdoors if they search for and make an effort to appreciate them.

It is clear that nature plays a role in maintaining our health, so take a moment to appreciate the natural world around you. Your heart will thank you for it.

Reference List:

Kim, K., Joyce, B.T., Zheng, Y., Nannini, D.R., Wang, J., Gordon-Larsen, P., Bhatt, A.S., Gabriel, K.P., Shikany, J.M., Hu, M., Chen, A., Reges, O., Carnethon, M.R., Lloyd-Jones, D.M., Zhang, K. and Hou, L. (2024). Associations of Urban Blue and Green Spaces With Coronary Artery Calcification in Black Individuals and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods. Circulation, 150(3), pp.203–214. doi:https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.123.067992.

UC Davis Health (2023). 3 Ways Getting Outside Into Nature Helps Improve Your Health. [online] Cultivating Health. Available at: https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/3-ways-getting-outside-into-nature-helps-improve-your-health/2023/05.