Spirituality Can Soothe Body and Soul
Experts contend strong spiritual bent and positive outlook can boost
your health

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- To stay healthy, you probably
know that you need to eat right, get plenty of exercise and rest,
and avoid bad habits such as smoking.
But, it might surprise you to learn that what you believe in can
have a big impact on your health and longevity.


"There have been a lot of studies, and more are coming out all of
the time, that show how patients with strong spirituality can
improve their health from a variety of chronic conditions, like
hypertension, heart disease, recovery from surgery and more," said
Dr. Michael Torosian, a surgical oncologist at Fox Chase Cancer
Center in Philadelphia, and co-author of the book, Spirit to Heal.
That doesn't necessarily mean you have to believe in God or
regularly attend a church, synagogue or mosque to reap health
benefits.
"Spirituality is where people find meaning in their life. It's
something higher than themselves, though not necessarily attached to
religion," said Patricia Megregian, a board-certified chaplain and
executive director of the Integrative Medicine Initiative at
Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
"Spirituality is what brings you peace and safety. It could be God
or Goddess, or nature. Some people feel it with a beautiful sunset.
Some people get it from meditation. For some, it's from their
community. It's a feeling that you're connected to something
greater, something larger than myself. For some that comes from
their family," she said.
Wherever your spirituality or a positive outlook on life comes from,
research indicates there are real health benefits:
People with high levels of religious beliefs or spirituality have
lower cortisol responses. Cortisol is a hormone the body releases
in response to stress.
Positive thinking produces nearly a 30 percent drop in perception
of pain.
Spirituality and the practice of religion have recently been
associated with a slower progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Those who regularly attend organized religious activities may live
longer than those who don't. Regular participation lowers
mortality rate by about 12 percent a year.
People undergoing cardiac rehabilitation feel more confident and
perceive greater improvements in their physical abilities if they
have a strong faith.
Increased levels of spirituality and religious faith may help
substance abusers kick their habit.