Loading...
Tracking restoration of park and urban street settings in coronary artery disease patients
Grazuleviciene, Regina Vencloviene, Jone Kubilius, Raimondas Grizas, Vytautas Danileviciute, Asta Dedele, Audrius Andrusaityte, Sandra Vitkauskiene, Astra Steponaviciute, Rasa Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.
Grazuleviciene, Regina
Vencloviene, Jone
Kubilius, Raimondas
Grizas, Vytautas
Danileviciute, Asta
Dedele, Audrius
Andrusaityte, Sandra
Vitkauskiene, Astra
Steponaviciute, Rasa
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.
Abstract
The physiological effects of natural and urban environments on the cardiovascular system of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients are not fully understood. This controlled field study examines the effects of restorative walking in a park vs. in an urban street environment on CAD patients’ stress parameters and cardiac function. Methods: Twenty stable CAD patients were randomly allocated to 7 days controlled walking in a city park or in an urban street environment group. The relationship between different environmental exposures and health effects was analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and exact Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean reduction in cortisol levels and negative effects after the walk on the first day was greater in the city park than in the urban street exposed group, while a reduction in negative effects in the urban group were greater after seven days. The reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the park group was evident on the seventh day before the walk (−4 mm Hg, p = 0.031) and 60 min after the walk (−6.00 mm Hg, p = 0.002). The cortisol slope was negatively associated with the DBP changes (r = −0.514, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Physical activity in a green environment with noise and air pollution levels lower than in an urban environment has a greater positive effect on CAD patients’ stress level and hemodynamic parameters. Mitigating green environmental influences may allow urban residents to maintain health and reduce disability.
Keywords
physical activity, green space, urban environment, cardiovascular disease, cortisol, hemodynamic parameters
Date
2016
Type
Journal article
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Book
Volume
13
Issue
6
Page Range
1-9
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Open access
License
File Access
Open