Study: Being religious may not make you healthier after all

[usregimechange]

A number of studies over the past two decades have shown that religious people tend to be healthier. But a new study suggests that when it comes to heart disease and clogged arteries, attending religious services or having spiritual experiences may not protect against heart attacks and strokes.

This study suggests "there's not a lot of extra burden or extra protection afforded by this particular aspect of people's lives," said Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, of the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, who led the study, published in the journal Circulation.

In their review of data from nearly 5,500 people who were part of another study, Lloyd-Jones and his colleagues -- one of whom, Matthew Feinstein, is a Northwestern medical student who suggested the research -- expected to see less risk for heart disease among those with more "religiosity."

The authors defined religiosity as participation in religious activities, prayer or meditation, and spirituality, regardless of denomination. They did not report the religious faiths of study participants.

Over the course of 4 years, those in the study had 152 events related to heart disease or clogged arteries, including 9 deaths, 42 heart attacks, and 24 strokes. That rate of such events -- less than one percent per year -- was lower than in the general population, which the team expected because they excluded people who were already diagnosed with heart disease and related conditions.

However, neither the rate of heart disease events, nor the number of certain risk factors -- such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure -- differed among those who were more or less religious or spiritual. The only exceptions: Those who went to religious services, otherwise prayed or meditated, or were highly spiritual were more likely to be obese, and less likely to smoke.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_95049.html

[klook]

1. All that fried chicken and potato salad at Dinner on the Ground events

can't be good for you.

I also remember reading that when religious people are ill, their health tends to decline when they hear that people are praying for them. I guess the effect is, "Yikes! I must really be sick!!"

[Historic NY]

7. Especially at them church suppers.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. You mean imploring gawd to bless your food

doesn't magically transsubstantiate fats, artificial hormones & free radicals into manna from heaven? Who woulda thunk it?!? One look at Jerry Falwell's hog jowls should have told his flock that he was digging his own grave with his teeth, but do you think one of them changed their eating habits after the old bastid kicked the bucket? I'm betting they doubled-down on the prayers - petitioning gawd instead of doing something tangible to improve their diets.

[Skittles]

3. disgusting

fucking funny as hell but disgusting :D

[LiberalFighter]

4. What made them think that those with more religiousity would be healthier?

I am sure there are other factors that are more likely to influence ones health.

I bet they are more likelier to be obese due to church potlucks and Sunday dinners right after church.

[defendandprotect]

5. Don't they call religion "the opiate of the masses"----?

"Don't worry, be happy -- blame "god" -- ???

[Historic NY]

6. Yup you can't pray those" Krispy Kremes" away...who knew.

Lord please don't make me fatter while polishing off a dozen.

[flvegan]

8. Religion and nutrition very rarely cross paths.

Only an idiot would think otherwise. I can see praying for good health or relief from pain, but to expect that one might be able to shovel bacon-wrapped-fried-bacon down the throat regularly and "pray away" any adverse consequences?

[RevCheesehead]

9. After 14 years in the ministry...

I have gained nearly 100 lbs, developed diabetes and high blood pressure, and have had severe bouts of depression, stress and anxiety. Being "religious" has been THE contributing factor to my decline in health.

I am now on leave, in part to care for my father, but also, to care for myself. Church is literally killing me.

[ohheckyeah]

10. I'm sorry ot hear that.

Why do you think it is?

[RevCheesehead]

12. Some Christians can be horribly cruel people.

And when your supervisors expect you to keep everyone happy, surrender all personal boundaries, and bring new people into a toxic environment while people are leaving the church in droves, one tends to look for comfort in the "safety" of food.
I honestly believe that Jesus would walk away from our version of "church."

Thanks for asking.

[ohheckyeah]

13. You're welcome

and I agree with your assessment. My sister and her husband both work for Christian entities and she is at least 200 pounds overweight and he is probably 300 pounds overweight. They aren't happy people. As you said, there are no personal boundaries and they are poorly paid with many demands made on their time.

I gave up church a good while ago. I found that it was at the root of my depression and anxiety. Much of the worst advice I ever got came from church people.

Take care of yourself and be well!

[RevCheesehead]

14. church..."at the root of my depression and anxiety."

I totally understand that.

I feel for your sister and BIL. I think some Christian organizations are like the dementors of Harry Potter - they suck the life out of you, and you begin to feel like you'll never be happy again.

You know, the longer I am away from church (I went on leave last July), the less likely I am to return. I am honestly having trouble seeing what the benefits are for me. I am very good at reaching marginalized people, children, and "the outcasts" of society.... you know, the people Jesus loved. They are no longer welcome in the building in many places. I can no longer align myself with them, and they refuse to change. What would Jesus Do? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that. :banghead:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. Crap. I'm sorry for you.

I hope you do muster up the willpower to get away from a toxic environment that's doing you harm. In other words -- please don't go back.

Will you accept an atheist hug? :hug:

[RevCheesehead]

17. Absolutely!!

I have many friends who are atheists. I'm one of those "live and let live" Christians.
Thanks for the hug! :hug:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

19. Let me ask you a few questions:

- Do you depend on your church job to pay your bills?
- Have you thought about looking for a job at some secular poverty-relief NGO?

[RevCheesehead]

20. Well, let's see...

Yes, as a pastor, I was employed full-time in the Methodist Church. HOWEVER, since I am now on family leave, they pay me NOTHING... Therefore, I am on COBRA (until it runs out), and am using my entire savings to pay my bills. Fortunately, my Dad has money, so my brother and I agreed that we'd use his money to pay my rent. I have less than $6,000 left in my savings before I have to try to grab my pension.
It's complicated, because my Dad has Alzheimer's, and is 91 years old. I took the time off, because the church was unwilling to move me closer to him (I was appointed to a church 3 hours away, and it was impossible to care for his needs and put up with all the demands). He is in a nursing home, but there are many times I am called to go with him to doctor's appointments, trips to the ER, etc... Plus, I want to spend as much time with him while he is still with me, physically and mentally. So it was a choice, but a no-brainer.

I am looking at other options, but things have been uncertain with my Dad's health. I am considering perhaps being a hospice chaplain... it's hard work, but damned rewarding, in helping people and their families at the end of their life. Right now, I volunteer helping out in the nursing home, helping to feed residents who cannot feed themselves, etc. I love doing what I'm doing right now, and know that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.

[ohheckyeah]

24. Jesus wouldn't be welcome in most

churches. He was a liberal ya know!

[pipi_k]

21. Depression and anxiety....and guilt

For a number of years I was a member of an online anxiety disorders support group. I can't even begin to count how many people on this group either thought, or were told, that their religion would "cure" them of anxiety disorders.

IF they believed hard enough.

The premise here being that if you're not cured, it's all your own fault. You must have done something wrong...not prayed hard enough...not tithed enough money...or any one of a dozen other reasons for failure.

So, naturally, these people add overwhelming GUILT to their existing anxiety disorders, which only makes things worse.


Anyway, along the same lines, I have some RL religious friends who have been trying for years to convert me and Mr Pip. Mainly me, though, as I think they sense I'm the bigger "fish", so to speak. I guess there's extra points in Heaven for converting Heathens or something.

A couple of times they've mentioned exorcisms. I am NOT kidding.

In their eyes, I am filled with the devil and need to be purged, and then I'll be "cured" of my affliction.

I never dignify this stupid idea with any sort of reply, and I refuse to discuss any of it with them. They haven't suggested it in a while...

:evilgrin:

[RevCheesehead]

22. Have you ever seen the movie "Leap of Faith"?

Steve Martin plays a huckster faith-healer with the complete road show. There's a hell of a lot exposed in that movie, and it rips at the people who say "you can be healed ONLY if your faith is strong enough."

Steer clear of these people... they do not know or understand what Christianity is all about.

[pipi_k]

25. I did!

It was some time ago, so I don't recall all of it, but I do remember that there was lots that got exposed about the "Faith Healing" business.

[ohheckyeah]

23. I no longer have anxiety or depression

issues. I got out of the sucky marriage I was told that I must stay in and quit listening to self-righteous Christians.

[ShockediSay]

11. Attending church doesn't make for your being a Christian, any more

than standing in a barn makes for your being a horse.

[NightWatcher]

15. does the study take into effect the groups who refuse medical treatment

while they sit around a pray?

[Lance_Boyle]

18. So they lump meditation in with speaking in tongues and snake-handling.

That's gonna skew yer results right there, kiddo. Meditation is proven effective at reducing risk factors for heart disease, and need not involve any sort of religiosity. I'd wager that snake-handling, on the other hand, might just be associated with slightly elevated health risk. Who the fuck is teaching the concept of controls in research institutions these days?