February is National Heart Month and with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to talk matters of the heart.
According to Harvard Medical School, patients with more gratitude experience lower levels of inflammation and overall better heart health. Even more surprising, a study published in Contemporary Clinical Trials found that people who practiced gratitude after a heart attack had faster recovery times compared with those who did not.
Many studies have found that giving to others, volunteering or otherwise helping someone can boost our health. One potential explanation is that it can help decrease our long-term stress, which can contribute to high blood pressure and other heart health problems.
This Valentine’s Day, AdventHealth Foundation Central Florida is encouraging our local community to cultivate gratitude in their lives. By helping others, we help ourselves – view ways you can spread the love this time of year.
Giving from the Heart
- Send a heartfelt, compassionate Valentine’s Day letter to a patient in the hospital – you might just brighten up their day during their greatest time of need.
- Say ‘thank you’ with a note to a doctor, nurse, therapist or caregiver that looked after you or your loved one.
- You can also make a donation to the area of care, like cancer, heart, or children’s care that helped you or your loved one. View other areas you can support at AdventHealth, here.
It’s really that simple, but even small gestures can generate big results.
And, remember, gratitude is contagious. One kind act has a ripple effect, leading others to behave generously toward people in their own lives.
