Neighborhood may affect high blood pressure risk

Excusinators gone wild!

"Researchers found that people who lived in neighborhoods with more opportunities for exercise, less crime, better grocery stores and a closer sense of community had a lower risk having high blood pressure -- independent of factors such as income and education level.

The findings, published in the journal Epidemiology, suggest that building better neighborhoods might also improve residents' cardiovascular health.

Walkable streets, recreational areas and better access to healthy foods may make it easier for people to exercise and maintain a healthy diet, explained Dr. Ana V. Diez Roux, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor and a co-researcher on the study."

Wanna bet?

There are no "healthy" foods.

There is only healthy eating.

Criminals, a relative non-factor, also like to live in nice areas, I'll wager.

You think building "better neighborhoods" (whatever those are) will keep them out?

Besides what better opportunity for the recommended vigorous exercise than running for your life?

And think of all the great heart rate elevation that worry causes.

But, there is a catch to this study.

"The study participants were surveyed about the conditions in the mile surrounding their home -- including whether they felt safe, whether nearby markets had a good selection of fruits and vegetables, and whether it was easy to walk in the neighborhood. They were also asked about the neighborhood's 'social cohesion' -- including whether their neighbors were generally friendly and willing to help each other out.

Overall, Diez Roux and her colleagues found that people who lived in the most walkable neighborhoods were about one quarter less likely to have high blood pressure than those in the least pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.

The researchers found similar differences when they looked at neighborhood safety, availability of healthy foods and social cohesion. The links did diminish, however, when the investigators factored in study participants' race and ethnicity."

Did you notice it?

"The links did diminish, however, when the investigators factored in study participants' race and ethnicity."

Maybe, excusinators, it is not the neighborhood after all.