Have a Heart For Volunteering
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