Can spending time outdoors help those with heart disease better cope with their condition? Could a walk in the woods actually be therapeutic?
The answer is a definitive yes. And for both physical and mental health reasons.
In fact, an emerging area of study known as ecotherapy, sometimes called green therapy or nature therapy, stems from the belief that health is not separated from the environment but part of our natural web. “The trend of nature therapy has been increasing over time,” says clinical psychologist Barry Jacobs, who specializes in helping families cope with serious and chronic medical illnesses as director of behavioral sciences for the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Pennsylvania. “Over my career I have seen more emphasis on it, especially for people with chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease.”
Exercise for the Body
The primary benefit of being outdoors is exercise, perhaps the single most important healthful activity anyone can engage in. Most chronic diseases, and certainly heart disease, are directly linked with lack of physical activity. “Of all the countries in world, we still are probably among the top three unhealthiest countries because we are not active and out and about,” says Dr. Gerald Fletcher, a cardiologist in Jacksonville, Florida, who is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
Exercise generally doesn’t cost any money, especially if it’s just a walk outdoors. And exercise can be as effective as – and in some cases replace – medications for heart disease. Before beginning to exercise regularly, patients should discuss their plans with their doctor.
The answer is a definitive yes. And for both physical and mental health reasons.
In fact, an emerging area of study known as ecotherapy, sometimes called green therapy or nature therapy, stems from the belief that health is not separated from the environment but part of our natural web. “The trend of nature therapy has been increasing over time,” says clinical psychologist Barry Jacobs, who specializes in helping families cope with serious and chronic medical illnesses as director of behavioral sciences for the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Pennsylvania. “Over my career I have seen more emphasis on it, especially for people with chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease.”
Exercise for the Body
The primary benefit of being outdoors is exercise, perhaps the single most important healthful activity anyone can engage in. Most chronic diseases, and certainly heart disease, are directly linked with lack of physical activity. “Of all the countries in world, we still are probably among the top three unhealthiest countries because we are not active and out and about,” says Dr. Gerald Fletcher, a cardiologist in Jacksonville, Florida, who is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
Exercise generally doesn’t cost any money, especially if it’s just a walk outdoors. And exercise can be as effective as – and in some cases replace – medications for heart disease. Before beginning to exercise regularly, patients should discuss their plans with their doctor.
