I receive a monthly newsletter by a doctor named Chauncey Crandall, MD. In his December issue he discussed some things that are religious in nature, but that also have real health benefits. For example, he cited studies from reputable institutions that show that patients suffering from serious illnesses show better recovery rates when they pray. More significantly, in my mind, he also cited a study published in the Southland Medical Journal that showed that patients who were prayed for by others “had more favorable outcomes, including fewer complications, fewer cases of pneumonia, and they required less drug treatment,” than those who were not the subjects of “intercessory prayer”. He supported that further by citing a study by Duke University in which 150 cardiac patients, who were admitted for coronary stenting, were given the following non-medical therapies: guided imagery, stress relaxation, healing touch, or intercessory prayer (people praying for them). “Researchers found that only the patients that were being prayed for had lower complication rates and a quicker recovery” (italics added).
The part of the article that really struck me, however, was a couple paragraphs about “giving.” Not only with regard to giving things, such as money, but also giving volunteer service. He said, citing a study conducted by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, that, “Neurologists found that the act of making a donation activated the mesolimbic pathway, which is the brain’s ‘reward center’, in much the same way as if the person was eating or having sex.”
Further, Dr. Crandall cited another study reported by The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, in which former heart patients volunteered to visit current patients at Duke University Heart Center Patient Support Program. It showed that “the volunteers experienced a heightened sense of purpose and a lessening of depression. Those factors translated into a lower mortality rate” among the study population.
That lead my mind to the state of Utah, which instituted a 4-10 work week (four days per week, ten hours per day) for state employees several years ago. One unanticipated result was a dramatic increase in volunteer service in the state.
I wonder whether, in a few years, they may also see their already lower-than-average heart disease mortality rate, go down further still.
Maybe there is something to this “religion thing” after all, huh? What did the Lord say? Something about losing your life to find it?
It seems that while service and giving is good for your spiritual heart and mind, volunteer work is good for your physical heart and giving is good for your brain, as well.
Interesting.