As Health and Well-being Consultants, informing our clients and the wider industry about environmental factors contributing to daily stress and mental and physical health, is our raison d’être. Some key environmental factors contributing to stress on the body and health issues include:
Excessive noise
There is much evidence demonstrating that environmental noise induces a rise in cortisol and adrenaline via the ‘fight or flight’ response – therefore automatically putting a person in a stressed state. Furthermore, the effects of long-term noise pollution can lead to mental health issues, suggested by research from Public Health England in 2018 that showed that people living in areas with high levels of traffic noise were 25% more likely to develop depression than those living in quieter areas.
Extreme temperatures
Both hot and cold environments trigger a stress response in the human body and can lead to cardiovascular problems, can encourage the development of infections, have considerable impacts on those with thyroid issues, and reduce productivity. This is a growing concern as climate change is causing more frequent and intense heat waves, and the energy crisis is forcing many households to heat their homes less often or not at all.
Poor lighting
Blue light found in artificial lighting reflects the light generated by the sun during the height of the day, and therefore raises cortisol levels and suppresses melatonin in humans – as a diurnal species – keeping them awake and alert. This cortisol is also responsible for the stress response, so over-exposure to artificial lighting, and over illumination within the built environment can readily become a physical stressor. The detrimental effects of poor quality artificial lighting are increased when exposure is during hours of darkness as this has a direct impact of circadian health, which leads to hormonal imbalances, sleep disturbance and has been closely correlated with mood disorders and even structural changes in the brain.
Clutter and lack of storage
Research shows that clutter – often as a result of lack of space and storage - impacts our focus and increases cortisol levels. Our brains tend to like order, so disorganisation disrupts that and can be an underlying stressor in our built environments. One study showed levels of cortisol to be elevated in mothers whose home environment was cluttered. In 2011, researchers found that clearing clutter from the home and work environment resulted in a better ability to focus while also increasing productivity.
These are just some of many environmental factors that can be significant stressors on the body. In understanding how much our physical environment can impact our health and well-being, we are in a position to make changes to the infrastructure, design and management of these spaces to ensure that they mitigate against these factors to reduce unnecessary stress on the occupants. Furthermore, there are plenty of interventions, such as those embedded in biophilic design and connection to nature, that can be used to help lower cortisol levels and improve well-being. For example, one study showed an increase in healthy cortisol patterns from 24% to 53% in just 3 months after subjects were exposed to new plants in their gardens.
The interventions and solutions that we advise at Ekkist are always site-specific, evidence-based and bespoke to the project in helping developers and designers to create truly healthy buildings. For more information on how we could support you, get in touch at ask@ekkist.co.
Comments