Nevada Volunteers <3s Volunteerism!
With it being Valentine’s Week, Nevada Volunteers thought it would be a fun to share different reasons why we <3 (heart) volunteerism.February is a month full of hearts, the color red, and love! It’s also American Heart Month. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States – 1 in 4 deaths can be attributed to health disease.
The good news? Heart disease can be prevented and volunteerism can help!
According to the study “Health Benefits of Volunteering” from the Corporation for National and Community Service, research shows volunteering isn’t just great for the “heart and soul” of an individual, but really the health of an individual.
It’s often said that giving is better than receiving. When individuals volunteer, it creates a sense of purpose, need, and satisfaction in helping provide a service to others in need. Research shows that those who give services receive more health benefits than those who receive services.
Here are some more healthy facts about volunteering:
- Individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not, event when controlling for physical health.
- Those individuals studied that suffer from chronic pain experienced declines in their pain intensity and decreased levels of disability and depression when they began to serve as volunteers for others also suffering from chronic pain.
- Individuals studied with post-coronary artery disease that volunteered after their heart attack reported a decline in despair and depression (two factors that have been linked to a higher probability of death in this type of patient). These individuals also reported a greater sense of purpose in their lives.
- States with higher volunteerism rates report less incidence of heart disease!
There’s research showing that having a bigger heart by giving results in lower incidence of heart disease – changing the impact of volunteerism in the community and the leading cause of death in the United States!
So how do you reap the benefits of volunteerism?
- Volunteering 1 to 2 hours a week will help you reach the positive health benefits!
- Visit nevadavolunteers.org to find a volunteer opportunity in your community!
