We knew that living near the sea made us 'gain' years of life. What we didn't know was that it was literally true

A U.S. study of more than 66,000 census areas found that living near the ocean is associated with longer life expectancy.

The benefit was strongest for people living within about 50 km of the coast.

By contrast, urban neighborhoods near inland rivers and lakes tended to show shorter lifespans.

Researchers suggest possible reasons include milder weather, cleaner air, and more opportunities for recreation and transport.

The authors stress this is a correlation, not proof that coastal living directly causes better health.