 Staying
healthy is an important and vital part of life. According to studies,
there are various social and psychological factors that can play a
role in maintaining a healthy heart:
- Practicing yoga or meditating
- Being married
- A strong social network
- Not perceiving oneself as anxious
It was discovered that individuals who excelled in these four areas
had better outcomes in several cardiovascular studies.
Positive Proof For Positive Heart Health
In one study, yoga and meditation seemed to relax arteries in people
suffering from cardiovascular disease. The study involved 33 people
(with and without cardiovascular disease) who took three yoga and
meditation classes each week for six weeks. Researchers found that
69 percent of those with cardiovascular disease experienced an improvement
in artery dilation.
It was also found that social support, especially being married,
reduced the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.
In another study of individuals with a history of heart failure,
it was discovered that those who perceived themselves as anxious
and had low levels of social support were more likely to be re-admitted
to the hospital.
Finally, researchers found that social
factors predicted the development of depression among individuals
with heart failure. Such social factors include:
- Living alone
- Alcohol abuse
- Health status
- Feelings of drowning under medical bills
As an individual increases the amount of these above social factors
in their life, they increase the chance of succumbing to depression.
Yahoo
News November 8, 2004
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