Ah, the sun, the surf, the long walks on the sand, those Boardwalk Fries. They instantly call to mind those wonderful beach vacations....and increased life expectancy. That’s right, new research from Ohio State University has revealed that living permanently near the shore is associated with increased longevity.
The researchers analyzed data from 66,263 U.S. census tracts, using life expectancy numbers from the CDC’s Small Area Life Expectancy Estimates Project, and found that living within 30 miles of an ocean correlated with lifespan of about one year longer than the average. But not all blue stuff is created equal. People who live near an inland body of water (rivers or lakes), showed a modest decrease in life expectancy from the national average.
What explains the striking difference between ocean and river environments? The researchers chalked it up to a wide variety of environmental and socioeconomic factors: Coastal areas experience fewer hot days and generally have more temperature weather than inland water areas; coastal regions experience better air and water quality and less environmental degradation than inland areas; and higher population density and higher income in coastal areas is associated with better health services and outcomes.
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