Friendships and your health

 

Do you have some friends who would laugh and cry with you? It does not have to be so many but some who care about you and love who you are. Such friendship is your asset and you are lucky to have them in your life. On top of the various occasion that you can enjoy with your jolly friends, some research shows the benefits of friendships for your health. 

What are the benefits of friendships?

Good friends are good for your health. Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. Friends can also:

• Increase your sense of belonging and purpose
• Boost your happiness and reduce your stress
• Improve your self-confidence and self-worth
• Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one
• Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise

Friends also play a significant role in promoting your overall health. Adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). In fact, studies have found that older adults who have meaningful relationships and social support are likely to live longer than their peers with fewer connections.

Don't we all wish to live longer and happier? Then, one of the strategies is to have and keep some close and dear friends.