Lifestyle & Social

Hanging out in a local park, lake, or garden really could be an antidote to ill health for people who live in cities, according to a recent study from Finland. Researchers found lower use of drugs for depression, anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and asthma among urban residents who often visit green spaces—regardless of their income or level of education. The Finnish team said that the frequency of visits to urban green spaces, rather than simply viewing them from your house, was key. Previous studies have suggested that exposure to natural environments is good for health and well-being, but the evidence is inconsistent. The Finnish team looked at the number of green and blue spaces (bodies of water) within a community, then compared those to both the frequency of visits...