Your breathing improves when you're outdoors

The air is full of harmful pollutants especially in an enclosed indoor environment where the air is constantly recirculated and more concentrated. Even what we foresee as a safe place like our own home can be filled with toxic vapors. Spending time outdoors in a natural environment provides you with fresh air and reduce exposure to harmful pollutants known to cause sleep problems, headaches and other respiratory problems.

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Green spaces increase your focus

People with fibromyalgia also struggle with cognitive problems such as poor memory, lack of concentration, confusion which can affect work competency or even impede the ability to converse. Spending time outdoors, especially in green spaces are found to have a positive impact on your mental state and focus. According to a british study, taking a walk in green spaces provides a therapeutic effect on our brain. The study showed that being in green spaces or even simply looking into green spaces reduces mental fatigue, increases mental focus and stress recovery. Spending time outdoors also provides your brain with a break from exposure to harmful blue light from smartphones, laptops and other electronics.


It's an opportunity for some light exercise

Exercise is essential for maintaining good health. Despite the debilitating condition, doctors and experts highly recommend fibromyalgia patients to cultivate an exercise routine to improve their condition and overall health. Even light exercise like brisk walking, tai chi or light yoga can help you get relief from fatigue and muscle pain.

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Sources:
  1. Adit A. Ginde, MD, MPH; Mark C. Liu, MD; Carlos A. Camargo Jr, MD, DrPH. Demographic Differences and Trends of Vitamin D Insufficiency in the US Population, 1988-2004. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(6):626-632.
  2. Prakash S, Kumar M, Belani P, Susvirkar A, Ahuja S. Interrelationships between chronic tension-type headache, musculoskeletal pain, and vitamin D deficiency: Is osteomalacia responsible for both headache and musculoskeletal pain? Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2013 Oct;16(4):650-8.
  3. Von Känel R, Müller-Hartmannsgruber V, Kokinogenis G, Egloff N. Vitamin D and central hypersensitivity in patients with chronic pain. Pain Med. 2014 Sep;15(9):1609-18.
  4. Wepner F, Scheuer R, Schuetz-Wieser B, Machacek P, Pieler-Bruha E, Cross HS, Hahne J, Friedrich M. Effects of vitamin D on patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pain. 2014 Feb;155(2):261-8.
  5. University of Michigan. Health System. Walking off Depression and Beating Stress Outdoors? Nature Group Walks Linked to Improved Mental Health. Accessed on: http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201409/walking-depression-and-beating-stress-outdoors-nature-group
  6. Li Q, Morimoto K, Kobayashi M et al. A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2008 Jan-Mar;22(1):45-55.
  7. Aspinall P, Mavros P, Coyne R, Roe J. The urban brain: analysing outdoor physical activity with mobile EEG. Br J Sports Med. 2015 Feb;49(4):272-6.

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