Religion and Health
Women who regularly attend religious services have a lower risk of death, new study finds.
Video transcript:
Heading to church this weekend may do more than soothe your soul. It may help you live longer.
According to a new study, frequently attending religious services may lower the risk of death for women form all causes, as well as from cardiovascular disease and cancer. More than 74,000 women were asked to report how often they attended services each week between 1992 and 2012. During that time, researchers tracked the participants’ health and medical outcomes.
Those who attended religious services more than once a week had a 33 percent lower risk of death from all causes compared to those who never attended. They also had a 27 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and a 21 percent lower risk of death from cancer. Attending just once a week was associated with a 26 percent lower risk of death.
The authors conclude, “Religion and spirituality may be an underappreciated resource that physicians could explore with their patients, as appropriate.”
I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV…with the news doctors are reading – health news that matters to you.
