MSGID: 1:317/3 646ee483   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Consistent link between the seaside and better health    
    15-country study confirms that people living near or visiting the seaside   
   enjoy better health    
      
     Date:   
         May 24, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Vienna   
     Summary:   
         Seaside residents and holidaymakers have felt it for centuries,   
         but scientists have only recently started to investigate possible   
         health benefits of the coast. Using data from 15 countries, new   
         research confirms public intuition: Living near, but especially   
         visiting, the seaside is associated with better health regardless   
         of country or personal income.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   Seaside residents and holidaymakers have felt it for centuries, but   
   scientists have only recently started to investigate possible health   
   benefits of the coast. Using data from 15 countries, new research led by   
   Sandra Geiger from the Environmental Psychology Group at the University of   
   Vienna confirms public intuition: Living near, but especially visiting,   
   the seaside is associated with better health regardless of country or   
   personal income.   
      
   The idea that being near the ocean may boost health is not new. As early   
   as 1660, doctors in England began promoting sea bathing and coastal   
   walks for health benefits. By the mid-1800s, taking 'the waters' or 'sea   
   air' were widely promoted as health treatment among wealthier European   
   citizens. Technological advances in medicine in the early 20th century   
   led to the decline in such practices, which are only recently gaining   
   popularity again among the medical profession.   
      
   As part of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project Seas, Oceans, and Public   
   Health In Europe led by Professor Lora Fleming, Geiger and colleagues   
   from the Universities of Vienna, Exeter, and Birmingham, as well as   
   Seascape Belgium and the European Marine Board, surveyed over 15,000   
   participants across 14 European countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia,   
   France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,   
   Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom) and Australia about their opinions   
   on various marine-related activities and their own health.   
      
   The findings, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment,   
   surprised the team. Lead author Geiger said: "It is striking to see   
   such consistent and clear patterns across all 15 countries. We also   
   now demonstrate that everybody seems to benefit from being near   
   the seaside, not just the wealthy. Although the associations are   
   relatively small, living near and especially visiting the coast can   
   still have substantial effects on population health."  Understanding the   
   potential benefits of coastal access for all members of society is key   
   for policymaking. Dr. Paula Kellett from the European Marine Board said:   
   "The substantial health benefits of equal and sustainable access to our   
   coasts should be considered when countries develop their marine spatial   
   plans, consider future housing needs, and develop public transportation   
   links."  But what does this mean for landlocked residents like Geiger   
   and her colleagues in Austria? "Austrians and other central Europeans   
   visit the coasts in their millions during the summer months, so they too   
   get to experience some of these benefits. Besides, we are also starting   
   to appreciate the similar health benefits offered by inland waters such   
   as lakes and natural pools."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Health_Policy # Public_Health_Education #   
                   Workplace_Health # Teen_Health   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Environmental_Awareness # Sustainability # Oceanography   
                   # Environmental_Issues   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Epidemiology o Public_health o Medicine o Health_science o   
             UV_index o Healthy_diet o Vulvovaginal_health o Antarctica   
      
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   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Vienna. Note: Content   
   may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Sandra J. Geiger, Mathew P. White, Sophie M. C. Davison, Lei Zhang,   
         Oonagh McMeel, Paula Kellett, Lora E. Fleming. Coastal proximity   
         and visits are associated with better health but may not buffer   
         health inequalities. Communications Earth & Environment, 2023; 4   
         (1) DOI: 10.1038/s43247-023-00818-1   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230524181839.htm   
      
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