RRMC Health Talk: Family time is important during holidays

Research shows that people who feel happy and in control of their lives are more likely to exercise, eat right, remember to take their medications, and take care of their overall health. What’s more, positive feelings can have a direct positive effect on your heart. On the other hand, feelings of discontent and anxiety can cause the body to release stress hormones that speed the heartbeat, constrict blood vessels, raise blood pressure and, over time, weaken the heart.

Healthy sibling relationships can provide benefits that carry into old age. The literature on sibling relationships shows that, during middle age and old age, indicators of well-being — mood, health, morale, stress, depression, loneliness, life satisfaction — are tied to how you feel about your brothers and sisters. Having a caring sibling of either sex nurtures our most charitable behaviors. So, the next time your sister borrows your favorite sweater and doesn’t return it, just let it go.

Here are a few other reasons to embrace family time this holiday season:

1. You’ll live longer. People who live closest to their families tend to live longer, healthier lives. Check out places like Sardinia, Italy, with the highest concentration of centenarians (people who live to 100). Here, extended family closeness is a way of life.

2. You’ll eat better. And so will your kids. Sharing meals with your family can significantly improve your diet. In a study published in Pediatrics, children and adolescents who ate meals with their families three or more times a week were more likely to maintain a healthy weight. They were less likely to develop eating disorders as well. By coming together for meals, it provides opportunities for emotional connections among family members.

3. You’ll be less stressed. Although your blood pressure and heart rate rise when you are under stress, they increase less so when you are with close friends and family members.

4. You’ll have happier kids. Kids who have close relationships with their parents learn better, are more resilient, are less likely to abuse drugs, and are more likely to be involved in school. For instance, simply having a talk with mom can help kids who have just gone through a tough situation. Research shows that talking to your mother can increase your level of oxytocin, often referred to as the attachment hormone. Oxytocin is a “feel good” chemical released in the brain that can counter the stress hormone cortisol.

Making a choice to spend quality time with people you love and who love you is worth the effort, for both your emotional and physical well-being.

This week’s Health Talk was provided by Rutland Regional Medical Center.