Parenthood linked to lower BP
The study by Brigham Young University researchers showed that parenthood is linked to lower blood pressure, particularly so among women.
Parenthood can be stressful, but it has health benefits too, says a new study. Parenthood is obviously not the only route to low blood pressure – daily exercise and a low-sodium diet also do the trick. However, the noteworthy aspect of the latest study is the idea that social factors may also protect physical health.
“While caring for children may include daily hassles, deriving a sense of meaning and purpose from life’s stress has been shown to be associated with better health outcomes,” said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a BYU psychologist who studies relationships and health.
The study involved 198 adults who wore portable blood pressure monitors, mostly concealed by their clothes, for 24 hours. The monitors took measurements at random intervals throughout the day – even while participants slept. This method provides a better sense of a person’s true day-to-day blood pressure. Readings taken in a lab can be inflated by people who get the jitters in clinical settings.
The study by Brigham Young University researchers showed that parenthood is linked to lower blood pressure, particularly so among women.
Parenthood can be stressful, but it has health benefits too, says a new study. Parenthood is obviously not the only route to low blood pressure – daily exercise and a low-sodium diet also do the trick. However, the noteworthy aspect of the latest study is the idea that social factors may also protect physical health.
“While caring for children may include daily hassles, deriving a sense of meaning and purpose from life’s stress has been shown to be associated with better health outcomes,” said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a BYU psychologist who studies relationships and health.
The study involved 198 adults who wore portable blood pressure monitors, mostly concealed by their clothes, for 24 hours. The monitors took measurements at random intervals throughout the day – even while participants slept. This method provides a better sense of a person’s true day-to-day blood pressure. Readings taken in a lab can be inflated by people who get the jitters in clinical settings.
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