Having great relationships in your life is one of the best things you can do to improve your chances of living longer. Humans are very social creatures and meaningful connections with others are essential for our health and happiness. In fact, good, close relationships can even shield us from health problems as we age.
Numerous studies have shown that people with great relationships enjoy more happiness, better health, and longer lives. This is true regardless of their socioeconomic status, exercise levels, or eating habits. Pretty amazing, right? High-quality social connections improve our well-being just like good eating habits, regular exercise, and high-quality sleep. This could be because socializing helps lower harmful stress hormones such as cortisol, which can cause significant damage to our health if left unchecked.
High stress can have a negative impact on our arteries, gut health, insulin regulation, and immune system. Good relationships can cause big drops in cortisol levels which inevitably improve our overall health. Caring for other people and showing social support also helps in this area by triggering the release of stress-reducing hormones.
Kind acts and affection improve health for both the giver and the receiver. Just another great reason to help others, give out compliments, and offer support when someone needs it. Connecting with others actually improves brain health and allows our minds to age better as we progress through different stages of life.
Research also shows that mortality rates are tied to social relationships. People with the least amount of social ties are over twice as likely to die than people with the most ties. On the flip side, not having good social relationships can hurt our health in many ways. This can include increased depression, cognitive decline, and a higher risk of mortality. If you want to live a better and longer life, it is essential to cultivate positive relationships over time.
