Having loving friends and family, being connected to your community, faith, or interest group, a pet, or even a plant can prevent disease…believe it or not?
True! The latest research continues to find that modern medicine no longer has all the answers for keeping us disease-free and alive. Thanksgiving is a great time for your health! (Maybe not your physical health - but great for your mental health!)
A study aimed at identifying factors that protect people from illness and death was conducted with 7000 residents in California over 9 years. The results showed that people who were single, widowed or divorced, those with few close friends or relatives, and those who tended not to join or participate in community organizations, died at a rate two to five times greater than those with more extensive social ties. Whew! Are your family and friends starting to look a little more appealing?!
What's more, these results were across the board, irrespective of age, gender, race or financial situation. And the social support factors were independent of traditional risk factors like smoking, alcohol, obesity or lack of exercise, or whether you were into preventive health services or happy with your lot in life. So, I guess if you're a slob who never exercises, but you're really popular, with a great family, and have lots of friends, you're in luck! LOL
And those people who had less friends, family or social connectedness died of every sort of disease - cancer, heart disease, infections and accidents. Which suggests that social isolation, disconnectedness and loneliness somehow increase susceptibility to disease.
Pay special attention to your social support network if you are pregnant, lose or change your job, or move house or cities. Women who perceive themselves as having low social support during their pregnancies had more complications.
Men who lost their jobs were less likely to have mental and physical problems when they perceived they had support from their partners, relatives or friends and kept involved in social activities.
If you are moving house, state or city, make sure you stay in touch by phone and make an effort to meet new friends or join groups as quickly as possible. Or if you change jobs, pay special attention to your old social support network and make a big effort to stay in contact - it will help you more than you can imagine!
We're not yet sure how this social support somehow gets into the body or how our friends or family communicate with our immune systems, or how caring for and being cared for, protects our hearts and changes the way we absorb cholesterol, but it does.
Maybe it links us to the outside world? Reminds us of the big picture, that we are still tribal in nature and by evolution? Why don't we write songs about "People, people who don't need people, people who love living on desert islands"?
What makes us search for mates (partners and - as Aussies would call - friends) other than the obvious! I think it's some deep rooted thing attached to the way we evolved. You don't see gorillas living in isolation…or lions (young males die if they don't find a pride of lionesses to feed them)…or deer or birds. Maybe slugs? Slugs don't seem to have a strong sense of family!
There are always exceptions to the rule and some 'socially disconnected' people live forever, but the latest hot research does suggest folks, that friends, family and community groups somehow seep into our immune systems and help us fight off all sorts of diseases.
If you're really pushed and can't stand your family, can't find a friend or become involved with volunteer organizations, church groups, orphanages, support networks, clubs, AA, car interest groups, adult education courses, or groups of people that meet for no real reason…then find a pet.
Even pet lizards seemed to have a positive impact! OK, if none of those suit you, buy or grow a plant and give it loving care - even that works! And if all else fails, talk to the wall and make it your friend!
See…this is just ONE more reason to be grateful for your family, friends and co-workers at Thanksgiving!!
