Table of Contents
- WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF LIVING NEAR GREEN SPACES?
- DOES LIVING NEAR GREEN SPACES HELP WITH QUITTING SMOKING?
- WHAT DOES THE FIRST ENGLISH RESEARCH INTO THE LINK BETWEEN SMOKING AND GREEN SPACES SAY?
- THE SCIENCE - WHY DO GREEN SPACES HELP WITH QUITTING SMOKING?
- WHAT ARE SOME OTHER METHODS TO HELP QUIT SMOKING?
- LOOKING TO QUIT SMOKING? LIVING NEAR GREEN SPACES COULD HELP - CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
*2022 Update - Now you can quit smoking with the New SMOKO VAPE POD! The newest addition to the SMOKO range, it is small, discreet and contains our great-tasting UK made liquids in pre-filled POD style vape.
The modern world must be so very different from the world that our ancestors inhabited, the world that we evolved to function in. It seems to be a symptom of this modern world that human beings now struggle with internal issues that either didn’t exist or we didn’t have the tools to understand, all those years ago.
One only needs to be aware of the man known as Wim Hof and what he has achieved with his breathing and cold water techniques to understand that we synergise with the harsher aspects of our environment, that we are connected on some fundamental level with our surroundings, and that connection makes us stronger.
Therefore, it is no surprise to me to find that novel studies have shown that those who live near green spaces are less likely to smoke. The study actually suggested that local green areas were associated with increased likelihood of giving up smoking, as opposed to having higher rates of ‘never smokers.’
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF LIVING NEAR GREEN SPACES?
As our cities have grown in size, and real estate in those built up areas has become incredibly expensive, many people are living lives without much greenery around them. Studies have demonstrated the health benefits of living near a green space, and these include reduced risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (1). The mechanism for this is not known, and needs to be substantiated by further work, but the outcome of the study does not contradict similar investigations.
A study analysed associations by the subjects between ‘recreational nature contact’ and ‘self reported health and well-being’ found that the likelihood of reporting good health or well-being significantly increased with a minimum of 120 minutes a week spent in contact with nature (2). The results were consistent across demographics, indicating that older adults and sufferers of long-term health issues still reported benefits. It also stated that the benefits were seen whether that 120 minutes was achieved in one session, or smaller sessions throughout the week.
Another study from Denmark found that the impact of exposure to green space as a child had a comparable effect on mental health outcomes to family history. The study covered over 900,000 people and showed children who grew up with the least green space locally had up to a 55% increased risk of developing a psychiatric disorder (3). Yet another source of evidence demonstrating that we need to protect and invest in green spaces because of the beneficial effect they have on us.
DOES LIVING NEAR GREEN SPACES HELP WITH QUITTING SMOKING?
It would appear that living near green spaces does indeed help with quitting smoking, though the mechanisms are not understood. A 2020 study from Plymouth University, UK, investigated the likelihood of residents in greener neighbourhoods being smokers, and whether the association is due to lower rates of ‘ever-smokers’ (people who have regularly smoked at some point) and/or higher rates of residents quitting smoking.
WHAT DOES THE FIRST ENGLISH RESEARCH INTO THE LINK BETWEEN SMOKING AND GREEN SPACES SAY?
The study took a representative sample of the adult population of England - totalling 8,059 people - and found that there was a 20% lower prevalence of current smokers for those living in the highest green space quartile, compared to those living in the lowest green space quartile. The study also showed that living in the two highest green space quartiles was associated with a 10% and 12% higher occurrence of quitting smoking (compared with the lowest quartile). (4)
The findings are significant as they acknowledged the effect was relevant regardless of household income, education and socioeconomic status. They established that local green space was not linked with ‘ever-smoking’, and therefore the association found between green space and current smoking is due to increased likelihood of quitting smoking, not lower rates of ‘ever-smokers’.
Leanne Martin, the lead author on the study, said that the findings of this study support the notion of investing resources in both urban and more rural communities in order for the public to maximise the benefits that can be gained by contact with areas with a high amount of greenery. It makes perfect sense to invest in natural resources that are of benefit to everyone!
As a society, it seems that we need to work nature based interventions into our standard health practices. There are many studies that support and demonstrate the positive effects of spending time in nature on our mental health and well-being; such interventions could be prescribed for a huge variety of conditions, to be done in conjunction with other avenues of treatment for maximum effect.
THE SCIENCE - WHY DO GREEN SPACES HELP WITH QUITTING SMOKING?
As previously mentioned, the mechanisms that are functioning to facilitate this positive effect of green areas is not known, but more and more studies are demonstrating the link between exposure to nature and improved health and well-being. One 2019 study had 19 experts from seven countries identify and assess the value of nature based health interventions, and came up with a number of treatments for specific physical, mental and social health issues. (5)
A separate 2020 study from Auckland University, NZ, concluded by saying the present findings were justification enough for the provision of sufficient green space to ‘protect the mental well-being of adolescents in an urbanising world’. (6)
So, while the mechanisms at play are not yet known, Leanne Martin’s findings are substantiated by more and more studies that corroborate the value of nature as an avenue for treatment to improve mental health and well being. As smoking is associated with many mental health disorders, and has a negative impact on our bodily systems, it appears that Leanne Martin’s study makes that connection between improving mental health and a person’s ability to tackle stressful challenges - like giving up smoking!
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER METHODS TO HELP QUIT SMOKING?
We have now established that accessing green spaces can have a positive effect on your quit smoking attempt, so make sure you have a local area in mind that you can explore when the mood takes you - or when a craving needs to be forgotten!
Why not reach for double benefit from your nature time by making it a brisk walk or a light run? Exercise is good for the cardiovascular system, goes a way to reduce stress, and helps to get rid of toxins like nicotine through sweating. It also helps with sleeping, which can be troublesome when you are quitting cigarettes.
Make sure to track your progress, too - there are apps for smartphones that do this sort of thing, they can tell you how much money you’ve saved, distract you with games, and have other features; but if you’re a bit old school - like myself - then a spreadsheet works well as a means of keeping an eye on things like money saved, and how long you’ve gone without a cigarette. Those numbers can help encourage you when you are having a tough day, so don’t underestimate how much of an impact that can have!
There are online resources available to help as well! Social media and other blog sites with groups of ex-smokers and those quitting smoking can give you a boost just knowing there are other people going through the same experience - so you are not alone!
Think about trying an e-cigarette. According to Public Health England, e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than smoking, and one study found e-cigarettes could be almost twice as effective as nicotine replacement products, when accompanied by behavioural support (7). The action of vaping is so close to smoking that, when switching over to an e-cigarette, there is little difference to your behaviour, but using e-liquid means you cut out all the harmful compounds found in tobacco. Then you can look at lowering the nicotine content of your e-liquids to kick the cravings altogether.
LLOOKING TO QUIT SMOKING? LIVING NEAR GREEN SPACES COULD HELP - CONCLUSION
Quitting smoking is not an easy task, so make sure you have your eyes wide open when you start the process - be aware of and utilise the resources available in order to maximise your chances of success. One of those resources is your local green areas, so try to get in the habit of spending a little time everyday in such places, and this will help maintain your mental health as well as improve your chances of quitting.
Breathe in the fresh air, be present in the moment, and let the change of scenery give you the opportunity to disconnect for a short while. Nature is full of wonders - let it work its magic on you!
*2022 Update - Now you can get a FREE* Starter kit when you buy a box of E-Cigarette refills! (Cigalike starter kit, one per customer)
REFERENCES
(1) Green spaces aren’t just for nature – they boost our mental health too
(2) Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing
(6) The Association between Green Space and Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review
(7) A Randomized Trial of E-Cigarettes versus Nicotine-Replacement Therapy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Dan Overgage
Dan Overgage is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes. Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking. During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.
