There are some amazing cities in the world that are an absolute dream to live in. London, New York, Tokyo, Paris. They’re all fantastic hubs of business and culture that are well sought after. But could living in these bustling metropolises actually be bad for our physical and mental health? Some research seems to point to that.
The negative effects of city living
Constant stimulation can take a toll on us mentally
Traffic, noise, people; the constant stimulation of city life can force the body into a stressful state, known as the fight-or-flight response, making us more vulnerable to mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use.
Compared to those living in more rural locations, researchers have found that those living in cities are 21% more likely to have anxiety disorders and 39% more likely to have mood disorders. And are more likely to suffer from PTSD and have anger management issues.
City life can affect our sleep
The hustle and bustle of city life can interfere with sleep quality and can even cause insomnia. This can lead to spikes in cortisol, the stress hormone, and over time, elevated levels of this hormone can increase our risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
In a survey of more than 15,000 people, Stanford University found that the bright lights of a city can decrease a person’s ability to get a good night’s rest and 6% of people living in highly lit, urban areas slept less than six hours each night (experts recommend at least seven hours sleep per night for optimal health).
City dwellers tend to live a different lifestyle
Crowded cities can make us more prone to contracting viruses, especially during cold and flu season. This is because cities are more densely populated than rural areas and frequenting packed public transport exposes us to more germs and bacteria, giving our immune system a good battering. Studies have also found that those living in urban areas often eat too much processed and fast food, drink more alcohol and use more drugs – all lifestyle factors that can contribute to ill health and immune system issues.
So what’s the solution?
It’s absurd to tell people who live in big cities to move. Their careers, families and whole lives cannot be simply uprooted. But there are things we can do to counteract the negative effects of city life.
Spend time outdoors
Spending too much time surrounded by concrete can cause your mood to take a real nose-dive. But studies show that re-connecting with nature can help improve psychological wellbeing and even prevent depression. Even just heading to a local park on your lunch hour can have a positive effect.
Good diet and exercise
Making sure we’re eating the right things, getting enough nutrition and moving as much as we can does wonders for our overall health and wellbeing. Yes in the city there are countless bars and restaurants just begging to be tried but it’s all about balance. Reducing alcohol intake and eating more vegetables is a good place to start and can really give your immune system a boost.
Practice self care
We need to make time to really look after our physical and mental wellbeing. Taking the time out to defrag and renew ourselves with a NAD+ IV infusion is a great way to reset our mind and body, ensuring they have what they need to cope with such a hectic environment. NAD+ IV infusions promote a range of health and therapeutic benefits such as improved sleep, better mental clarity, improved mood, increased energy levels and a boosted immune system. They can even help you detox from drugs and/or alcohol.
