The Miracle

Have a Heart For Volunteeri­ng

- By Ann Med ford

We all ll want tt to b be h healthierl­thi and df feell better. Dedicating our time to help others can provide a wealth of mental and physical health benefits. Science has shown that volunteers can enjoy improved relationsh­ips, lower stress levels, and higher overall life satisfacti­on. What if the key to a happier and healthier life was simple and readily available to everyone? Of course, eating well and staying physically active are essential. But the simple act of doing something for someone else can also have a positive and lasting impact on your own health—including your heart health. Does your heart good While volunteeri­ng is a worthy pursuit all by itself, it doesn’t hurt to know that the benefits loop back to you in many ways, including your own heart health. Researcher­s have recently found a strong correlatio­n between volunteeri­ng and a reduced risk of high blood pressure. The study by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in the US tracked more than 1,100 adults over a four-year period to determine what effect volunteeri­sm might havehav on their blood pressure and variousvar social and psychologi­cal factors. They found that those whowh reported at least 200 hours of volunteerv­ol work per year were 40 percentper less likely to develop hypertensi­onper than those who didn’t volunteer.vol HelpsHel you just feel better Volunteeri­ngVol plays an important partpar in a healthy lifestyle—people whowh volunteer tend to feel better and more in control of their health. In o one study, more than 75 percent of those who volunteere­d indicatedc­ate that volunteeri­ng made them feel physical physically better and that they felt their health had improved over the previous year. Volunteers are more likely to seek out informatio­n on their health, making them more engaged patients. Volunteers with chronic health issues are better able to manage their illness by staying active and keeping their mind focused on other tasks. The helper’s high Researcher­s use the term “helper’s high” to describe the feeling we get when we perform a good deed. This positive feeling is experience­d when endorphins are released it can reduce pain and lower stress levels. The bottom line: we feel good when we do good things. Helps manage stress. The negative effect of stress on our mental health is well known. The health benefits of volunteeri­ng include helping to reduce stress while increasing self-esteem and satisfacti­on with life. The UK National Health Service recommends giving back to the community as one of five steps to mental well-being. In addition to lower stress levels, volunteers report improved moods and an enriched sense of purpose. Volunteers are more likely to report feelinghig­hertional pendence, well-being,on calma capacity varietyand peaceful,peaceful includingf­orof measuresri­ch and personal interperso­naltheyof scoreemo- inderelati­onships,My own story and overall life satisfacti­on. I’ve experience­d these benefits myself. A few years ago, I developed a health issue after complicati­ons from surgery, resulting in sporadic episodes of excruciati­ng pain, lasting hours at a time. While I was upset and frustrated about my situation, volunteeri­ng on the board of directors for a community organizati­on helped keep my mind off my personal challenges. During my first sum- mer as head of the fundraisin­g committee committee, I was able to refocus my energy into new ways to drive funding for the organizati­on. I found ways to work through my issues while supporting my community, even attending a board meeting via conference call while suffering a mild pain episode. My fellow volunteers were extremely supportive, and hearing their concerned voices over the phone was a great comfort to me. Spending time with a group of engaged and energized people inspired me to stay positive and active, while appreciati­ng all the good things in my life

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