Beijing: People who feel safe from crime in their neighborhoods are less likely to die from a heart attack, a new study has found.
In the study, the researchers tried to find out how specific features of the regions might affect deaths from heart attack and stroke.
Experts analyzed the data of about 36,000 people between the ages of 35 and 70 from China.
These individuals filled questionnaires about the environment in their areas. In these questionnaires, they mentioned the feeling of safety from crime in their area, satisfaction with their area, beauty of the area, easy access to shops and other factors.
The experts also reviewed the medical history of the people involved in the research. Over an average 12-year follow-up, slightly more than 2,000 deaths occurred, including 765 deaths from cardiovascular disease.
During this time, 3000 cases of cardiovascular disease (cases of heart attacks and strokes) also came to light.
According to a paper presented at the ESC Congress in Amsterdam, the study found that people who reported their neighborhoods were safer had a 9 percent lower chance of dying during the study period. While the probability of death due to cardiovascular diseases was less than 10 percent.
The study found that an improved environment was associated with a 6 percent reduction in heart attack and stroke cases.
Study author Dr. Mengya Li, from the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases in Beijing, said there is growing evidence of the impact of our neighborhood on our health.
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