What makes the city center unhealthy?

Getting plenty of exercise and sleep goes a long way toward making a person healthy, but so does getting out of the city and into the countryside. City-dwellers have suspected it for a long time, but scientists have finally pinpointed what it is that makes city living so unhealthy: the parts of the human brain that handle emotions and stress don't respond well to crowded conditions.

The above notion could explain why people born and brought up in the city have higher rates of anxiety and depression, and a higher instance of mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Researchers aren't sure why cities are so detrimental to people's health, but they are sure that people are healthier and happier when they're in wide-open, green spaces. Exposure to nature cuts down on stress, eases depressive symptoms, and contributes to overall health.

Previous research shows a 21% higher risk for depression in those who come from the city, and a 39% higher risk for other mood disorders. These researchers monitored the brain waves of adults while they were working on math problems under stress. The MRIs from the city dwellers showed a much different reaction to stress when compared to MRIs of country-dwellers. The study found that the amygdala was much more active in those who lived in the city; these people also had more activity in the cingulate cortex while working on those math problems.

More research is needed to confirm those results, as scientists aren't exactly sure why city living is so unhealthy. However, other studies show that those living in rural areas are less likely to have a stroke or heart attack, which can both be brought on by anxiety and stress. A study by Britain's Essex University shows that just five minutes in a green space can reduce stress. If you want to reduce anxiety and possibly live a longer life, leave the city and head for the country.