Vitamin G stops people dying

Posted on Tue, 15 Jul 14

Living in close proximity to natural environments has potent health benefits, and a new study suggests it can increase survival in people at high-risk for cardiovascular disease. 

Stroke is a leading cause of death, and people who have had a stroke are at a high risk of a subsequent cardiovascular event or another stroke. Although living closer to natural environments (green space, or Vitamin G) has been reported to have important health benefits, a protective effect against recurrent stroke had not been studied until now.

Researchers looked at data from stroke survivors and found that those living in environments with the highest amounts of green space had a significantly higher survival rates than those living with the lowest proximity to green space, even after accounting for other risk factors.

Based on extensive research into “vitamin G’ the authors hypothesize that the benefit they saw may be due to factors such as lower levels of pollution, less noise as well as known benefits of green space on stress, mental health and even immunity.

While major risk factors for chronic disease such as smoking, exercise and diet are given ample attention; the importance of natural environments is often ignored despite being increasingly important with continuing urbanization, deforestation and climate change.

Reference:

Wilker EH, Wu CD, McNeely E, et al. Green space and mortality following ischemic stroke. Environ Res. 2014 Jun 3;133C:42-48.