A new study has shown that people who have positive religious beliefs go through less psychological distress after a heart surgery.
People who are spiritually angry of doubtful show more distress than those who lean on their faith after going through a heart surgery.
Of all people interviewed, the vast majority were Christians. The patients were questioned before and after their surgery and the first questionnaire classified their religious beliefs as either positive or negative. The people who were regarded as having positive religious feelings showed that they sought spiritual support with God, the negative patients on the other hand demonstrated anger towards God or questioned God’s love.
The study controlled for other factors which could influence their psychological coping, but which are not related to religion, such as the patient’s sense of hope and the social support they received before the surgery.
Psychological well being is not the only benefit faith brings: studies have also shown that people involved in religious activities have lower blood pressure than those who don’t. An interesting side note is that those people showed lower blood pressure despite having a higher average body mass index and being less likely to take their medication as directed. Considering the sample for this study consisted of just 5300 people I would not like to draw conclusions on medicine-taking habits of Christians in general, but the blood pressure results are still pretty interesting.
The lower blood pressure results could be due to lower stress: according to Sharon Wyatt, RN, PhD from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson people who are active in religious activities (attending church and praying) have lower levels of cortisol, which is a biological marker for stress. Thus, religion can delay or prevent hypertension and due to lower stress levels also lower your blood pressure.
Good health is just one more thing to add to your thank-you prayers!