nature exposure and benefits to health

see also:

• depression
• anxiety
• stress

• it has been long known that “fresh air and sunshine” along with regular exercise, in particular, walking, are important to health and wellness
• many studies¹⁾ are now showing there are important psychological and health benefits to getting out into nature
  • direct exposure tasks, particularly walking and biophilic activities, produced the most consistent psychological benefits across studies - these tasks also provided a clearer picture of the neurophysiological changes, supporting theoretical frameworks such as ART and SRT, which emphasize multi-sensory engagement and present interaction with natural environments²⁾
• increasingly “nature prescriptions” are being used to improve well being
• “forest bathing” and overnight camping in tents or swags where there is close connection to nature (where it is safe to do so) and minimal digital technology interference are popular escapes
• having time alone can be extremely valuable periods to further allow de-stressing and formation of positive experiences

• Stress Reduction Theory (SRT)
  • postulate that spending time in nature can reduce stress symptoms, foster positive emotions, reduce negative emotions, and improve cognitive functions due to the innate connection of humans to the natural world
  • time escaping from the digital world, the demands of normal life, work and relationships is important to reduce the chronic stress levels which many are unaware weighs heavy upon their shoulders and causing long lasting negative impacts on psychological, cardiovascular, gut health and stress-related illnesses
  • appreciation of nature scenes activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which predominates during periods of rest and governs restorative physiological processes, such as digestion
  • environmental exposure plays a substantial role in shaping brain health
    • interaction with nature directly impacts behavioral factors, as studies have shown that it improves sleep quality and reduces stress
      • sleep is required for executive and cognitive function
      • stress impacts overall brain health through Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal sensitization, raised cortisol levels, and excessive and prolonged activation of sympathetic system
        • stress hormones affect the immune system
          • prolonged exposure to cortisol and catecholamines can weaken immune surveillance and shift the balance toward chronic, low-grade inflammation and this can lead to increased risk of metaboic syndrome, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancers and cancer survival³⁾
• Attention Restoration Theory (ART)
  • proposes that positive responses to nature allow the restoration of attention
  • walking in the bush requires constant attention to uneven surfaces, new nature sensations - visual, auditory, olfactory and sensory and this also requires use of muscles and cognitive skills especially for balance and planning that may be normally be under-utilised.

• there is no point having positive benefits if one does not mitigate the risks, and there are many, some are location specific
• injury risks:
  • falls risk especially from uneven or slippery ground or rocks (or if silly enough to stand near cliff edges or on waterfalls)
  • other injury risks - usually minor cuts or sprains
  • burns from camp fires, stoves, etc
  • bites from insects or animals
    • in Australia, it is mainly venomous snakes you need to be constantly looking out for in the warmer months in particular - stick to wide cleared paths
  • rarely, major injury from trees falling or getting caught in major weather events such as wind storms, floods, bush fires, etc
• exposure risks:
  • UV sunlight exposure and sunburn
  • heat exhaustion / heat stroke
  • hypothermia
  • dehydration
  • smoke - camp fires or wild fires
• getting lost
• human behaviour risks
  • attacks from humans are thankfully much less common in nature away from urban areas, but rarely do occur
• see risk management when camping