Student life is certainly far from mundane, miserable and stressful right? So come on everyone- don’t worry, be happy!
Research shows that those who experience joy, excitement and contentment in their lives are less likely to suffer from heart disease. Researchers suggest the best way to do this, is to get a daily dose of a pleasurable hobby or activity. Not only will such activities improve your mood, but it may also be a positive impact on your physical health.
Lead author, Dr Karina Davidson of Columbia University Medical Centre, in New York, America, said:
“Some people wait for their two weeks of vacation to have fun, and that would be analogous to binge drinking – moderation and consistency, not deprivation and binging, is what is needed.
In a 10-year study of 1,700 people, it was found that the most depressed were at the highest risk of heart disease. The team of US researchers believe that happier people may have better sleeping patterns; are less liable to suffer stress and more able to move on from upsetting circumstances- all of which can put a strain on the body.
However, Dr Davidson admitted more research is needed on this link. By the end of the analysis, some 145 had developed heart disease – fewer than one in 10.
Ellen Mason, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation said:
“Today’s study used an experimental design that is great for observing trends and associations, but doesn’t prove cause and effect or tell us for sure whether changing our mood can definitely reduce our risk of heart disease”.
She continued, “This research suggested that those who naturally had a ‘glass half-full’ mood seemed to be most protected from disease. But we’re not all like that, and we know that improving your mood isn’t always easy – so we don’t know if it’s possible to change our natural levels of positivity.”
A little information about heart disease:
There are thought to be 2.5 million people in Britain with heart disease. this condition is the single biggest killer causing claiming 70,000 deaths a year.
700 people in the UK suffer a heart attack every day – that’s one every two minutes.
One British adult dies from the disease every three minutes
The risk of heart disease is greater for people with poor diet, who smoke and do not exercise, and men are more likely to suffer from it than women.
Heart disease and stroke may be inherited, but often they are the result of lifestyle. Changing eating, exercise and smoking habits can play a significant part in prevention.
For more information, please visit: The British Heart Foundation
No comments:
Post a Comment