Clinical and Translational Allergy (Oct 2019)
Helsinki by nature: The Nature Step to Respiratory Health
- Tari Haahtela,
- Leena von Hertzen,
- Josep M. Anto,
- Chunxue Bai,
- Abay Baigenzhin,
- Eric D. Bateman,
- Digambar Behera,
- Kazi Bennoor,
- Paulo Camargos,
- Niels Chavannes,
- Jaime Correia de Sousa,
- Alvaro Cruz,
- Maria Do Céu Teixeira,
- Marina Erhola,
- Eeva Furman,
- Bilun Gemicioğlu,
- Sandra Gonzalez Diaz,
- Peter W. Hellings,
- Pekka Jousilahti,
- Nikolai Khaltaev,
- Vitezslav Kolek,
- Piotr Kuna,
- Stefania La Grutta,
- Le Thi Tuyet Lan,
- Tamaz Maglakelidze,
- Mohamed R. Masjedi,
- Florin Mihaltan,
- Yousser Mohammad,
- Elizabete Nunes,
- Arvid Nyberg,
- Jorge Quel,
- Jose Rosado-Pinto,
- Hironori Sagara,
- Boleslaw Samolinski,
- Dean Schraufnagel,
- Talant Sooronbaev,
- Mohamed Tag Eldin,
- Teresa To,
- Arunas Valiulis,
- Cherian Varghese,
- Tuula Vasankari,
- Giovanni Viegi,
- Tonya Winders,
- Anahi Yañez,
- Arzu Yorgancioğlu,
- Osman Yusuf,
- Jean Bousquet,
- Nils E. Billo
Affiliations
- Tari Haahtela
- Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki
- Leena von Hertzen
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Helsinki University Hospital
- Josep M. Anto
- ISGlobAL, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL)
- Chunxue Bai
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Respiratory Research Institute
- Abay Baigenzhin
- EuroAsian Respiratory Society
- Eric D. Bateman
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town
- Digambar Behera
- Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research
- Kazi Bennoor
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital
- Paulo Camargos
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, Federal University of Minas Gerais
- Niels Chavannes
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center
- Jaime Correia de Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, ICVS, School of Medicine, University of Minho
- Alvaro Cruz
- ProAR – Nucleo de Excelencia em Asma, Federal University of Bahia
- Maria Do Céu Teixeira
- Hospital Dr Agostinho Neto
- Marina Erhola
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
- Eeva Furman
- Environmental Policy Centre, Finnish Environment Institute
- Bilun Gemicioğlu
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa
- Sandra Gonzalez Diaz
- Hospital Universitario y Facultad de Medicina
- Peter W. Hellings
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven
- Pekka Jousilahti
- National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
- Nikolai Khaltaev
- Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)
- Vitezslav Kolek
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis, University Hospital Olomouc
- Piotr Kuna
- Division of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Barlicki University Hospital, Medical University of Lodz
- Stefania La Grutta
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione Biomedica (IRIB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
- Le Thi Tuyet Lan
- Respiratory Care Center, University Medical Center
- Tamaz Maglakelidze
- Pulmonology Department, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Chapidze Emergency Cardiology Center
- Mohamed R. Masjedi
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
- Florin Mihaltan
- National Institute of Pneumology M. Nasta
- Yousser Mohammad
- National Center for Research in Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Tishreen University School of Medicine
- Elizabete Nunes
- Pulmonology Department, Maputo Central Hospital
- Arvid Nyberg
- FILHA, Finnish Lung Health Association
- Jorge Quel
- Hispanic American Allergy Asthma & Immunology Association
- Jose Rosado-Pinto
- Immunoallergology Department, Hospital da Luz Lisboa
- Hironori Sagara
- Division of Allergology & Respiratory Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine
- Boleslaw Samolinski
- Department of Prevention of Environmental Hazards and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw
- Dean Schraufnagel
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Talant Sooronbaev
- Kyrgyzstan National Centre of Cardiology and Internal Medicine, Euro-Asian Respiratory Society
- Mohamed Tag Eldin
- Department of Thoracic Diseases, Ain Shams Faculty of Medicine
- Teresa To
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute and Della Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
- Arunas Valiulis
- Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Vilnius University
- Cherian Varghese
- Management of NCDs, WHO
- Tuula Vasankari
- FILHA, Finnish Lung Health Association
- Giovanni Viegi
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione Biomedica (IRIB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
- Tonya Winders
- Allergy & Asthma Network
- Anahi Yañez
- Investigaciones en Alergia y Enfermedades Respiratorias (INAER)
- Arzu Yorgancioğlu
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University
- Osman Yusuf
- The Allergy and Asthma Institute
- Jean Bousquet
- MACVIA-France, Fondation Partenariale FMC VIA-LR, CHRU Arnaud de Villeneuve
- Nils E. Billo
- FILHA, Finnish Lung Health Association
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13601-019-0295-2
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 9,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 12
Abstract
Abstract Background The Nature Step to Respiratory Health was the overarching theme of the 12th General Meeting of the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) in Helsinki, August 2018. New approaches are needed to improve respiratory health and reduce premature mortality of chronic diseases by 30% till 2030 (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). Planetary health is defined as the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends. Planetary health and human health are interconnected, and both need to be considered by individuals and governments while addressing several SDGs. Results The concept of the Nature Step has evolved from innovative research indicating, how changed lifestyle in urban surroundings reduces contact with biodiverse environments, impoverishes microbiota, affects immune regulation and increases risk of NCDs. The Nature Step calls for strengthening connections to nature. Physical activity in natural environments should be promoted, use of fresh vegetables, fruits and water increased, and consumption of sugary drinks, tobacco and alcohol restricted. Nature relatedness should be part of everyday life and especially emphasized in the care of children and the elderly. Taking “nature” to modern cities in a controlled way is possible but a challenge for urban planning, nature conservation, housing, traffic arrangements, energy production, and importantly for supplying and distributing food. Actions against the well-known respiratory risk factors, air pollution and smoking, should be taken simultaneously. Conclusions In Finland and elsewhere in Europe, successful programmes have been implemented to reduce the burden of respiratory disorders and other NCDs. Unhealthy behaviour can be changed by well-coordinated actions involving all stakeholders. The growing public health concern caused by NCDs in urban surroundings cannot be solved by health care alone; a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory.
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