AMERICAN HEART MONTH

It’s February – American Heart Month – a time when the nation casts the spotlight on heart disease, the number one cause of death for Americans. With this in mind, this month’s newsletter focuses on the connection between cardiovascular health and nature. Imagine a walking meeting along the Green Spine, Yoga in the park, riding your bike to work, the SWMD park and streetscape transformation intersects health and nature through evidence-based design, equitable engagement, and the shared stories and journeys of each type of District user.

It is through these lenses and best practices in design that is converting the medical district into a model for what this type of District can and should be; a place for healing, for contemplation, for safety and respite from the stressors of daily life. It is through guidance from the unique individuals that walk it daily, the SWMD becomes a restorative landscape for this important community.  

Research finds Trees in Urban Spaces Promote Heart Health

An analysis of 10 years of hospitalization and death data shows urban green space, particularly trees, can reduce cardiovascular disease risk, and furthermore, that urban reforestation may be a population-level intervention to protect cardiovascular health.

Being in Nature makes your heart healthier  

A 2018 study found that people who live in more natural areas have lower levels of several stress-related biomarkers, and even an enhanced ability to grow and repair blood vessels. Additional research on counties infested with the emerald ash borer suggested that there was an increase in mortality related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory-tract illness in areas where the infestation progressed and experienced significant loss of trees.

The Nature Prescription

The health benefits from green space exposure are significant, and its becoming more common for health care providers in the U.S., Canada, and beyond to ‘prescribe’ time in the outdoors. Licensed health care providers in four provinces of Canada, for example, can now prescribe a free pass to Canada’s national parks.

the Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative

In this book, Florence Williams investigates nature’s positive effects on the brain by discussing brand-new research, and disclosing nature's ability to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and even strengthen our relationships.

The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in the Virtual Age

Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Author Richard Louv urges us join a larger movement that recognizes the restorative powers of the natural world, one which boosts mental acuity and creativity, promotes health and wellness, and ultimately strengthens human bonds.

The Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit

In the tradition of Rachel Carson, Elizabeth Kolbert, and Mary Oliver, Haupt writes with urgency to remind us that there is hope in the crossroads of science, nature, and spirit. With each chapter, Haupt provides tools for transforming our sense of belonging through the wonder of the natural world.