ISLAMABAD, (MILLAT ONLINE/APP): The trees, shrubs and plants
outside your home might offer something more than just pretty
scenery.
According to a new study, living in, or near, green areas
can help women live longer and improve their mental health.
Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
and Brigham and Women’s Hospital examined more than 108,000 women
enrolled in the Nurse’s Health Study — a nationwide investigation
into risk factors for major chronic diseases in women — from 2000
to 2008, Health News reported.
They compared risk of death with the amount of plant life
and vegetation near the women’s homes and found that women living
in the greenest areas had a 12% lower death rate than women living
in the least green areas. The levels of vegetation were determined
using satellite imagery from different seasons and years.
“We were surprised to see that there was a 12 percent lower
rate of mortality,” said Peter James, study author and research
associate at the Harvard Chan School’s Department of Epidemiology.
“We know already that vegetation can help mitigate the
effect of climate change. Our study suggests the potential co-
benefit for health.”
The team believes the findings would be similar if men were
included in the study.