Imagine spending less than an hour a day doing something enjoyable and seeing a significant reduction in your blood pressure. The best part? It doesn’t involve exercise or medication. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered that volunteering at least 200 hours a year can reduce your risk of high blood pressure by up to 40 percent. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common health issue affecting around 65 million Americans and a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. So why not explore an effective non-pharmaceutical option to help prevent high blood pressure while also doing some good?
The Link between Volunteering and Blood Pressure
Rodlescia S. Sneed, one of the researchers at Carnegie Mellon, explains the decision to explore this link, “Every day, we are learning more about how negative lifestyle factors like poor diet and lack of exercise increase hypertension risk. We wanted to determine if a positive lifestyle factor like volunteer work could actually reduce disease risk.” The study involved 1,100 participants aged between 51 and 91. Over the course of four years, researchers tracked the relationship between volunteer work and blood pressure.
It might seem a bit surprising that volunteer work can have such a profound effect on blood pressure, but Sneed offers an explanation. As people grow older, life changes such as retirement, the departure of children, and the loss of loved ones often lead to a decrease in social interaction. These social transitions can negatively impact an individual’s mental and physical well-being. By participating in volunteer work, older adults can maintain social connections and fill the void left by those natural opportunities for social interaction that life’s transitions have taken away.
Volunteering and Overall Wellness
Maintaining social connections becomes increasingly important as we age. According to Sneed, good social connections can “promote healthy aging and reduce risk for a number of negative health outcomes.” Volunteering isn’t just about helping others; it’s also about helping yourself. By staying socially active and engaged, you can lower your risk of hypertension, improve your overall health, and simultaneously have a positive impact on the lives of others.
In today’s digital age, we have access to countless ways to stay connected and find volunteer opportunities suited to our interests and skills. Some popular forms of volunteer work include assisting the elderly or disabled, engaging in animal welfare, working with environmental or conservation groups, and supporting local events or community programs.
How to Get Started
So, how do you go about getting involved in volunteer work? Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect opportunity:
- Determine your interests: What causes or issues are you passionate about? Volunteering in an area that you’re genuinely interested in will not only be more enjoyable, but it’ll also likely be more sustainable over time.
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Assess your skills: Just like in any job, it’s essential to identify your strengths and skills when seeking volunteer opportunities. Not only will it make your volunteering experience more impactful but it’ll also allow you to grow and evolve in your role as a volunteer.
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Schedule it in: Volunteering on a regular basis can be challenging, especially if you have a busy schedule. By setting aside a specific time every week or month for volunteering activities, you’re more likely to commit and see the positive effects on your health and well-being.
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Network: Talk to friends, family, or coworkers who are involved in volunteer work for suggestions and recommendations. Conduct online research or contact local non-profit organizations or community centers to inquire about opportunities.
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Stay open-minded: Volunteering can be an excellent chance to adopt new skills, meet new people, and explore different avenues of giving back. Be open to various possibilities, even if they don’t seem ideal at first. You never know where the road ahead might take you.
Wrapping It Up
With the potential to decrease blood pressure, promote healthy aging, and improve overall well-being, incorporating volunteer work into your lifestyle can be a wise decision. The benefits of volunteering extend beyond health – they also include making new friends, gaining a sense of purpose and satisfaction, and contributing to a better world for ourselves and future generations. Take action today with your favorite cause, and you may find more than just your blood pressure dropping, but your entire life transformed in unexpected ways.
