SCIENCE/HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH

Visits to Green Spaces are Linked to Lower Prescription Drug Use

Exposure to natural environments is beneficial to one’s health

Credit: B.R. Shenoy

Nature’s greenery is beloved by almost everyone, as it has been shown to improve mood, enhance the beauty of landscapes, and provide fresh air to breathe.

A recent study conducted in Finland has confirmed the positive impact of green spaces on people’s well-being.

The study published in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine journal suggests that regular visits to parks and gardens can potentially reduce the need for prescription drugs.

Credit: B.R. Shenoy

Study

• A group of scientists from Finland asked around 16,000 Finnish people about the medicines they were taking, how many green and blue spaces they could see from their homes, and how often they went to those places.
• Green spaces are places like parks, gardens, forests, cemeteries, and natural grasslands, while blue spaces are oceans, lakes, and rivers.
• The scientists asked the participants how often…