INFINITY News: According to the latest research, community connections are the key to extending your lifespan! They may even be more effective than diet and exercise! #Community #HealthyLifespan #LongLife
Video explanation
The secret to a long life is actually "that"?! ~The latest research shows the new key to health~
Hello, I'm John! If someone asked you, "What is important to live a long and healthy life?" what would you think of?
"It's a balanced diet after all!"
"Daily exercise is essential!"
"Quality sleep is important too!"
Yes, yes, all of these are really important, aren't they? I thought so too. But according to a research article I read recently, there is more to our lifespan than these, especially heart and vascular diseases (Cardiovascular diseaseIt turns out there's a more important factor that may lower your risk of death from cardiovascular disease (cardiac arrest, a disease that affects the heart and blood vessels throughout the body)!
You may be thinking, "Huh? It's not diet, exercise, or sleep? So what is it?!" Today, I will explain the surprising results of this research in an easy-to-understand way and what you can do starting today.
Shocking fact! The key to longevity is "connections with people"
What the study shows is that"Strong ties with the local community","People's Well-Being"What is it?
Some of you may be wondering, "What is well-being?" Simply put, it is a state in which you feel mentally, physically, and socially fulfilled and think, "I feel great!" This study found that warm connections with local people, and a sense of mutual support, have a tremendously positive effect on our health.
Of course, this doesn't mean that a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and enough sleep are useless. These are very important as the foundations of health. However, this research suggests that in addition to these, or even more than that, "connections with other people" may protect our hearts and extend our lives. That's a bit surprising, isn't it?
Why is connecting with people good for your health?
So why do community connections and feelings of well-being lower the risk of cardiovascular disease? There are a few possible reasons.
- Reduce Stress: Good relationships bring mental stability and relieve stress. Stress raises blood pressure and puts strain on the heart, so even just reducing this is a big benefit. It's reassuring to know that there are people who will listen to your worries and that you have friends who can help you when you're in trouble.
- Promoting healthy behaviors: If you have good relationships with the people around you, you can exchange health information and find people to exercise with. It's nice to have a relationship where you can invite each other to go for a walk together today. Also, while isolation can make you more likely to fall into unhealthy habits, connections with others may help prevent this.
- A sense of security and purpose in life: Being aware that you are a member of society and that you are useful to others leads to joy in life and a sense of security. It has also been pointed out that this may boost immunity and speed up recovery from illness.
In other words, warm connections with others have a direct and indirect positive effect on our minds and bodies, and ultimately help keep our hearts and blood vessels healthy.
You can start today! A small step to foster connections
You may be wondering, "But how can I deepen my connections with people?" You don't have to do anything special. You can start with small things in your daily life.
- Greeting: Smile and say hello to your neighbors and store clerks. Small acts of communication are the first step to closing the emotional distance between you.
- Attend local events: It's also a good idea to attend local events, such as festivals and clean-up activities. You might find something in common to talk about.
- Join a hobby club: Connecting with people through your interests and passions is a natural and fun way to do so - be it sports, cultural activities, or anything else!
- Cherish the time you spend with family and friends: Of course, relationships with people close to you are also important. Make a conscious effort to make time to communicate with them.
- Try volunteering: Doing something for someone else gives us great satisfaction and connection.
The important thing is to increase your interactions with others, even if only little by little, in a way that suits you without forcing yourself. It would be great if you could increase the number of moments in your daily life where you feel like "I'm not alone."
A word from John
After reading this article, I once again felt that health is truly a deep subject. We tend to focus on "efforts to complete ourselves" such as dietary restrictions and exercise, but in fact, "relationships" with the people around us may be just as important, or even more important.
Of course, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a given, but I want to be more conscious of cultivating warm connections with people from now on. Why not use this as an opportunity to reassess your relationships with people close to you, or take a step forward into a new community?
This article is based on the following original articles and is summarized from the author's perspective:
Yes, Connecting With Your Community Extends Your
Life—Research Proves It