Living by the ocean — is it not only about peace of mind, but possibly a guarantee of health and a longer life? A large-scale study conducted in the United States attempts to answer such questions.
Researchers from Ohio State University analyzed more than 66,000 regions across the country and found a connection between people’s place of residence and life expectancy.
According to the analysis results, the expected life expectancy of Americans living in settlements located within 50 km of the ocean, bay, or the Atlantic and Pacific coasts is at least one year longer than the national average. It is known that the average life expectancy in the US is 79 years.
Interestingly, such a positive effect was not observed among residents living near rivers and lakes. On the contrary, the average life expectancy in these regions is around 78 years, which is shorter compared to coastal residents.
The research team, led by Professor Jamie Wu, focused on several factors while searching for the causes of this difference:
– Mild climate and clean air in coastal regions;
– Broad opportunities for walking, recreation, and physical activity along the sea;
– Well-developed infrastructure and transportation systems;
– Generally, people with high incomes tend to live in such areas.
Conversely, cities near rivers and lakes lack these advantages. Such areas often experience high levels of pollution, poverty, constant flood risk, and a shortage of safe spaces for physical activity.
The authors of the study consider this work to be the first large-scale comparative analysis in the US examining how different "blue spaces" — bodies of water, rivers, lakes, and ocean coasts — affect life expectancy.
It is noteworthy that these conclusions were published at a time when the average life expectancy in the US continues to decline compared to other developed countries. That shows how important factors like climate, environment, and physical opportunities can be in human life.
Living by the ocean is no longer just a background for pictures — it is becoming a major factor for life quality and its length.
Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
