Your Friends Could Be A Stress-Buster

One of the most obvious health benefits of
friendship, is a reduction in stress.


According to The American Institute of Stress, around 3 in 4 doctors' visits are a result of stress-related illness, and stress is
the basic cause of 60% of all human illness and disease.

However, a 2011 study published in the journal Developmental Psychology suggests that simply being around a good friend
during a negative experience may reduce stress.

The study, which involved 103 children aged 10-12 years, found that children who spent time with a best friend throughout
a negative experience had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva, compared with when negative experiences
were endured with a parent, brother, sister, teacher or another individual.

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Circulation found that women who had
frequent social interaction with a wide range of friends were more likely to have healthier blood pressure levels than their less social counterparts.

Another study of more than 500 women with suspected coronary artery disease found that those with more friends were 50% less likely to die from the condition than those with fewer friends.

What is more, research has suggested that friendships can aid recovery from heart conditions.

A 2014 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, for example, found that patients who had experienced a heart attack were more likely to have depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life if they had low social support.








Source: medicalnewstoday.com