Women living near a park or forest suffer from fewer symptoms of PMS, especially those related to psychological status.
- Up to 20% of women of childbearing age suffer from premenstrual syndrome.
- Symptoms can be physical and psychological.
- Several factors can make them worse, including stress.
Stomach aches, headaches, digestive disorders, acne… The period before menstruation is often associated with a variety of symptoms, more or less debilitating. PMS is a reality for many women, while others are spared. Norwegian and Spanish researchers wanted to understand which factors could act on the symptoms. In the review Environment Internationalthey explained that living near a green space could reduce them.
Their work is based on data collected from more than 1,000 women aged 18 to 49, residing in the cities of Bergen (Norway), Gothenburg, Umea and Uppsala (Sweden). All agreed to answer a questionnaire on their lifestyle, their level of physical activity and their health. Scientists had identified eight common symptoms of PMS: irritability, anxiety, crying or increased sensitivity, depression, trouble sleeping, abdominal pain, breast tenderness or abdominal bloating, and headache. At the same time, the researchers assessed the proximity of green spaces to the participants’ homes, and they analyzed the levels of exposure to air pollution and fine particles.
Profits conditional on long-term exposure
By cross-referencing all of this data, the scientists found that women living in neighborhoods with more green spaces had fewer symptoms of PMS. This particularly applied for five of them: anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, breast tenderness and abdominal bloating. “When we looked at exposure to green spaces at a specific time, the analysis did not yield any significant results. Our research therefore highlights the importance of long-term exposure to green spaces, said Payam Dadvand, co-coordinator of the study.
How to explain this link?
This is the first time that a study has looked at the links between exposure to green spaces and the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. While the association between the two may seem surprising, researchers have a lead on the explanation. “Three of the four symptoms that improve with exposure to green spaces are psychological, which matches what we already knew: contact with nature helps reduce stress and improve mental health,” explained Kai Triebner, co-author of this research. However, stress can worsen the symptoms of PMS, and it can also increase cortisol levels: “a hormone which, in turn, may be associated with increased release of progesterone, which has been linked to the onset of PMS symptoms”concluded the scientist.
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