Mental disorder in cities tied to reduced access to nature

                Reduced access to nature may be part of the reason why mental illnesses and mood disorders are more common in cities. There is enormous amount of diseases largely tied to our removal from the natural environment. The growing tension between the necessary role urban areas play in society and the debilitating aspects of cities that disconnect humans from the natural world. Mental illnesses and mood disorders are more common in urban areas, and while many factors share the blame, reduced access to nature is a contributing cause. City dwellers in dense urban areas have little or no contact with nature in their daily lives.

Foot-tapping while sitting may thwart arterial disease

                Fidgeting while sitting for an extended period of time at a computer or during a long flight can protect the arteries in your legs and potentially help prevent arterial disease. Sitting for an extended period of time reduces blood flow to the legs, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Many of us sit for hours at a time, whether it is binge-watching our favourite TV show or working at a computer. Fidgeting is to increase blood flow to the lower limbs and that would be sufficient to prevent a decline in arterial function. In a study, researchers compared the leg vascular function of 11 healthy young men and women before and after three hours of sitting. While sitting, participants were asked to fidget intermittently with one leg, tapping one foot for one minute and then resting it for four minutes, while the other leg remained still throughout. On average, the participants moved their feet 250 times per minute. Researchers then measured the blood flow of the popliteal – an artery in the lower leg – and found that the fidgeting leg had a significant increase in blood flow, as expected, while the stationary leg experienced a reduction in blood flow. While only one leg was exposed to fidgeting during the experiment, in a real-world scenario researchers recommend tapping both legs to maximize the beneficial effects.