Did you know that February is National Heart Month? It may be the season of love, but it’s also the season of all things heart health. Over the years, studies have supported an association between volunteering and lower blood pressure and stress levels. But how exactly does giving back improve your heart health? In today’s blog post, we’re discussing how giving back can improve your heart health and how you can get involved in your community today!
Health Benefits of Giving Back
When we commit an act of kindness, we’re not only doing a good thing but also producing positive chemical reactions in our bodies. Good chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin begin to flood our brains.
When this happens, we can feel the change. Our moods shift, we feel more energized, we get a sense of deeper connection, and a feeling of pride within ourselves.
The Connection Between Giving Back and Your Heart
There are benefits that come with giving back. These include the ‘helpers high,’ experiencing higher levels of cortisol, and getting involved with your community. But the benefit that relates most with your heart health is lowered blood pressure.
Giving back and getting involved in your community can help to reduce stress and depression while also increasing your self-esteem and self-efficacy. This makes it easier for your blood pressure to regulate which helps decrease potential side effects such as stroke and heart disease.
Ways to Start Giving Back Today
There are so many ways you can begin to give back. However, one of our favorite ways is to participate in a clinical trial in your very own community.
When you take part in a clinical trial, you’re not only helping to advance medicine, but you’re also helping to improve the lives and health of others. Those who participate in a trial also learn more about their own health while gaining access to potential new groundbreaking treatments and care from leading healthcare providers. The best part is that you’re helping your heart health throughout the process.
Ready to participate in a clinical trial and start improving your heart health today? MyLocalStudy has got you covered. Click here to learn more about current and future trials near you.
Resources:
https://www.givelify.com/blog/five-ways-giving-is-good-for-your-heart/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/
