The floor an apartment is on affects its price. But according to recent studies, where you live in a building can have a significant impact not only on your comfort, but also on your health, writes Newsweek.
Many would consider such a statement an exaggeration. However, a study conducted by the University of Bern refutes this notion.
Scientists analyzed 142,590 deaths in Switzerland – including people living in high-rise buildings – and came to surprising conclusions.
Living on the ground floor is more risky for health
The results of the study show that people who live on the ground floor are 40% more likely to suffer from serious lung diseases compared to those who live on the 8th floor or above.
Also, residents of lower floors have a 35% higher risk of developing heart disease.
Building renovation
Overall, those living below the 8th floor have a 22% higher risk of premature death than those living on higher floors.
Researchers attribute these differences to higher levels of pollution and noise on lower floors.
The air at street level contains more harmful particles from traffic and other urban sources, and constant noise affects sleep quality and therefore cardiovascular health.
However, living at high altitude is not without its drawbacks. A Spanish study showed that people who live in urban areas, on higher floors and in regions with mostly cloudy skies are more prone to seasonal allergies, such as allergic rhinitis (hay allergy).
In summer, pollen rises into the atmosphere as daytime temperatures rise, and in the evening, as the air cools, it descends again – first entering apartments on upper floors through open windows.
Thus, residents living in high-rise buildings may be more exposed to pollen than those living on the ground floor.
Analysis of the real estate market shows that the most sought-after apartments remain those located on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors – an ideal compromise between accessibility, quiet and safety. So, ultimately, the perfect floor is the one that suits your lifestyle.
Illustrative Photo by Skylar Kang: https://www.pexels.com/photo/table-placed-near-window-in-modern-spacious-room-6045336/
