"Religious beliefs battle hypertension" study

[MarkCharles]

"Does a belief in God confer any health benefits? With the help of a large Norwegian longitudinal health study called HUNT, researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) were able to find a clear relationship between time spent in church and lower blood pressure in both women and men.

“We found that the more often HUNT participants went to church, the lower their blood pressure, even when we controlled for a number of other possible explanatory factors,” says Torgeir Sørensen, a PhD candidate from the School of Theology and Religious Psychology Centre at Sykehuset Innlandet (Inland Hospital)."

.....

"Earlier HUNT studies have shown a positive correlation between humor and good health, and participation in different cultural activities and good health."


Full article here:
http://www.psypost.org/2011/12/religious-beliefs-battle-hypertension-8814

[Arugula Latte]

1. Eww.

Time spent in church -- nothing would stress me out more. Not much is creepier than churches in my estimation.

[MarkCharles]

2. I can understand why certain places, certain thoughts, certain memories or..

images can either relax or excite people in one way or another.

I'm more curious about the benefits of social interactions, longer term. To have a group of friends or acquaintances one sees every week for certain events can be a re-assuring event for some.

I have also heard that people who pet cats have lower blood pressure.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Cats, now that is my church.

I must have the lowest blood pressure ever 'cuz of the kitties.

[GoneOffShore]

3. Mindful meditation has the same effects.

[Odin2005]

5. This has to do with the community aspect, not the religous belief itself, IMO.

[onager]

6. Of course their BP is lower. They're asleep.

n/t