Prayer, meditation, and spiritual based exercise have been shown to have positive effects on health.
Health Viewpoints
Faith has a profound impact on health. Mounting scientific evidence shows that when people pray, meditate, or perform spiritual exercises, they can experience seemingly miraculous effects on their health. Such findings effectively give us additional options when fighting diseases.
1. Helps Control Blood Pressure
A study published in the journal “Annals of Behavioral Medicine” surveyed different racial groups in the United States and found that women who regularly attend religious activities and with gratitude practices have a lower chance of developing high blood pressure. There may also be added benefits of participating in collective religious activities, while people who are accustomed to praying alone have a higher prevalence of hypertension.
There may be several reasons for this phenomenon. First, religious practices often bring peace of mind to people and help relieve stress, which directly affects blood pressure levels. In addition, social interaction and emotional support within a religious community can reduce stress and anxiety.
2. Helps Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
Faith is also linked to the risk of heart disease. A comprehensive study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who regularly attend religious services have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and peripheral artery disease). In general, people who are more faithful to religious beliefs usually lead healthier lifestyles. They tend not to smoke, exercise regularly, and maintain a balanced diet, resulting in better control of blood pressure.
Religious rituals also promote a healthier lifestyle, and the emotional and psychological support brought by faith can help preserve heart health.
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3. Increases Sense of Happiness
Faith and spirituality increase our overall sense of happiness. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that older people who regularly attended religious activities had better long-term mental health and fewer depressive symptoms. However, no significant impact on long-term mental health was seen in those participating in sports and voluntary charity work.
Religious activities can provide seniors with social gathering opportunities, help them cope with illness and stress, and maintain healthy daily habits.
4. Improves Sleep Quality
A study published in Sleep shows that mindfulness meditation is a viable treatment option for adults with chronic insomnia and can help them sleep better.
Mr. Liu, an engineer with chronic insomnia, benefited from Falun Gong practice. He started meditating every night and taking notes on his sleep patterns. Two months later, he saw a significant improvement in his sleep quality. He feels that meditating before bed is the best way to relax and fall into a deeper sleep.
5. Strengthens Immune System
Meditation can also regulate the immune system. Earlier studies have shown that compared to normally healthy people, Falun Gong practitioners have enhanced immunity, with their immune cells more capable of killing bacteria (phagocytosis). Gene analyses showed that Falun Gong practitioners’ neutrophils (type of white blood cell) have a longer lifespan under normal conditions and have strong phagocytic power, making them more conducive to protecting the body. However, in an inflammatory state, after the neutrophils eliminate pathogens, they will quickly undergo apoptosis (cellular death), thereby facilitating the rapid resolution of inflammation.
With all the benefits of meditation in lowering our stress levels, improving our mood, and helping us make healthier lifestyle choices, our immune systems become more balanced and less susceptible to damage from external factors.
6. Relieves Pain
Faith also plays a role in how we manage pain. A 2008 study published in Pain Research and Management found that people who regularly attended worship services were less likely to have chronic pain. This is partly because it is more difficult for people with chronic pain to attend religious services. On the other hand, participation in religious services does have a preventive or ameliorative effect on physical and mental disorders. The study also found that patients with chronic pain who regularly attended religious services had better mental health, were more proactive in managing their pain, and were less dependent on painkillers.
In addition, people with chronic pain are often more sedentary and more likely to engage in drug and alcohol abuse than the general population. The 2008 study found that people with faith, especially those who regularly participate in religious activities, are more likely to use exercise to improve pain and less likely to become addicted to substances such as drugs and alcohol.
Prayer, meditation, and other spiritual activities can inspire a certain degree of relaxation response in our bodies, reduce our perception of pain, and enhance the effectiveness of pain treatments.
Faith can profoundly impact our physical health, from lowering blood pressure and reducing cardiovascular disease to increasing overall well-being and strengthening our immune systems. In this respect, spirituality is a well-founded option for managing our health.
