Each year, numerous annual surveys are published that declare selected regions to be the healthiest and healthiest in the country. These criteria vary by publication and brand, but many people like to look through the report to see where their area falls on the list.
These lists may be new to some, but it’s true that where we live affects our health. Whether the sound of passing trains keeps you awake at night, tree-lined streets and local jogging trails provide good exercise (or just go for a fun walk around the block). There are researchers who study the factors that make neighborhoods (and, by default, their residents) healthy, and everything from access to green space to the amount of traffic in the area is important.
What’s most important to keeping locals happy, healthy, and healthy? Here’s what to look for.
lush green space
Green spaces typically include parks, trails, and grassy areas designated for people to enjoy. Henry Louis Taylor, director of the Center for Urban Research at the University at Buffalo, tells Yahoo Life that these are important for a variety of reasons. “The most important purpose green spaces serve is to purify the air and reduce airborne pollutants,” he says.
But a lack of green space or sparse tree cover can increase the risk of air and noise pollution, Taylor said. “It can increase stress levels,” he says.
Green spaces are also known to encourage people to be physically active and lower their risk of developing many serious health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, said Professor and Senior Associate Dean said Dr. Adnan A. Haider. and Yahoo Life talks about innovation at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
High walkability
Haider said being able to walk around a community can have a big impact on health. “One of the biggest causes of death and disability in the United States is non-communicable diseases such as heart disease,” he says. “And one of the biggest risk factors for them is lack of exercise.”
Haider says anything that encourages people to exercise is helpful. “Walking is fundamental to that,” he added, noting that well-lit walking trails make people feel safe and more likely to use them. “We find that cities that promote walkability in their infrastructure and design for walkability do much better in terms of health,” Haider says. “The World Health Organization has made promoting walking in urban spaces a key recommendation for cities around the world.”
minimal traffic
There are two main factors to consider when it comes to transportation: safety and pollution. “One of the biggest complaints we get in inner-city communities is cars speeding through neighborhoods,” Taylor said. “People can get hit and hurt, and parents get stressed out about their kids when they’re outside too close to the road.”
Hyder points out that increased traffic means increased air pollution in local communities. “One of the major sources of air pollution is vehicle exhaust,” he says. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), traffic also causes noise pollution, which can increase the risk of sleep problems, high blood pressure, and hearing loss.
clean air
Air pollution is thought to be associated with several serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), air pollution can also make breathing difficult for people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Particle pollution has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and even death in heart disease patients.
Neighboring municipalities typically track air quality through the Air Quality Index (AQI). AQI is a color-coded system that alerts local residents to potential health risks due to air quality.
low crime rate
Crime has a clear impact on health from a safety perspective. But fear of crime can also have a big impact on your health. “That forces people to stay indoors instead of outdoors,” Taylor said. “Crime prevents people from jogging, walking, and moving around their neighborhoods.”
The high level of crime also causes stress for residents. “Even the slightest noise can wake you up in fear of someone breaking into your home, causing even more stress,” Taylor said. “That leads to toxic stress, which is a huge barrier to health.”
Good access to education
Access to free, high-quality schooling is critical to health, Taylor said. “Being able to read means you’re more likely to read nutrition labels and know which foods are good or bad,” he says. Having basic health knowledge is also important when visiting a doctor, Taylor says. “If you don’t understand what your doctor is saying, you’re in danger,” he explains.
People with minimal education are also less competitive in the job market, Taylor said. “That means you end up working in the low-income wage sector and have limited resources to buy good housing and quality food. That’s not good for your health,” he said. say.
quality medical care
Haider says this aspect is “fundamental” to the health of a neighborhood. When a hospital closes in an area, “access to health care is severely affected,” he said. That makes it less likely that someone will seek care when they need it, and less likely that help will arrive in time in an emergency. Easy access to a doctor’s office is also important for preventive care and overall health care. “The balance of health care resources is critical,” says Haider. “It impacts the health of the neighborhood for obvious reasons.”
Overall, experts emphasize the importance of neighborhood characteristics in population health. “You can’t improve health without changing neighborhoods,” Taylor says. “You can try, but you will fail.”
