Life expectancy can be influenced by several factors, from diet to physical exercise, social relationships and sleeping habits. Now, a study suggests that where you live also makes a difference and that not all waters are equal when it comes to longevity.
According to Women’s Health, a website specializing in lifestyle, researchers from Ohio State University concluded that living near certain water areas is linked to a longer life.
Jianyong Wu, an environmental health scientist at the same institution, says coastal residents can live, on average, a year or more above the national average of 79 years.
By contrast, those who live in urban areas near rivers or inland lakes have a life expectancy of around 78 years. The analysis was based on census records of 66,263 people, seeking to relate longevity with proximity to bodies of water.
The coast makes the difference
According to the team, several factors could explain this difference. Coastal areas tend to have more moderate temperatures throughout the year, better air quality and greater opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Furthermore, the price of housing next to the sea is, on average, higher, reflecting a higher socioeconomic status that also contributes to health and longevity, according to the same source.
Inland waters don’t always help
In contrast, living near inland rivers or lakes presents more varied results. Rural areas can still provide some benefit, although less pronounced than life by the sea.
In urban areas, pollution, the lack of safe spaces for physical activity and the risk of flooding are highlighted by Yanni Cao, an ecological geographer at Ohio State University, as factors that reduce life expectancy.
More than location: habits remain decisive
The study reinforces the idea that place of residence influences health, complementing other strategies already known to increase longevity, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, consumption of fruits and vegetables and maintaining social relationships.
As mentioned by , it is now clear that the proximity of the sea appears as an unexpected ally in the search for more years of life.
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