The old standard line…..”take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning.” Turns out this has some truth about aspirin but not completely so.
Tag: heart disease
Free Blood Pressure Walk-in Clinics this December
Hypertension when left untreated is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke. Knowing your numbers is the first step in managing this treatable condition.
During the month of December Pentucket Medical is offering free blood pressure walk-in clinics at the dates/ times below. If you cannot get to one of our locations during these times, you can provide your latest BP numbers by posting them on https://www.pmaonline.com/patient-guide/patient-gateway/or calling your clinician’s office.
Health Benefits of Acts of Kindness
Today is National ‘Do Something Nice Day’. Did you know that doing an act of kindness has many health benefits plus it makes us feel good. Did you also know that,
Kindness is Teachable
“It’s kind of like weight training, we found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help.”
Dr. Ritchie Davidson , University of Wisconsin
Kindness is Contagious
The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people!
Kindness Increases
THE LOVE HORMONE
Witnessing acts of kindness produces oxytocin, occasionally referred to as the ‘love hormone’ which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving our overall heart-health. Oxytocin also increases our self-esteem and optimism, which is extra helpful when we’re in anxious or shy in a social situation.
ENERGY
“About half of participants in one study reported that they feel stronger and more energetic after helping others; many also reported feeling calmer and less depressed, with increased feelings of self-worth”
Christine Carter, UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science Center
HAPPINESS
A 2010 Harvard Business School survey of happiness in 136 countries found that people who are altruistic—in this case, people who were generous financially, such as with charitable donations—were happiest overall.
LIFESPAN
“People who volunteer tend to experience fewer aches and pains.Giving help to others protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. People 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early, and that’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise,gender, habits like smoking, marital status and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week or going to church.” Christine Carter, Author, “Raising Happiness; In Pursuit of Joyful Kids and Happier Parents”
PLEASURE
According to research from Emory University, when you are kind to another person, your rain’s pleasure and reward centers light up, as if you were the recipient of the good deed—not the giver. This phenomenon is called the “helper’s high.”
SEROTONIN
Like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin. This feel-good chemical heals your wounds, calms you down, and makes you happy! So today do something nice to someone who least suspects it… maybe you both could reap some of the health benefits from a random act of kindness.
cite: randomactsofkindness.org