Some astounding new research shows that parenting may actually reduce your blood pressure. According to the study, "All other things...
Some astounding new research shows that parenting may actually reduce your blood pressure. According to the study, "All other things being equal, the average systolic blood pressure - the top number in a reading - was 4.5 points lower for parents than non-parents." Women showed more significant differences; i.e. mamas had lower blood pressure than non-mamas but dads, while they did have lower blood pressure than non-dads, the point difference was not as significant as it was for mamas vs. non-mamas. Dr Julianne Holt-Lunstad, study head at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, said, "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."
Being a mama or dad is healthy in many ways although lower blood pressure to me seems an odd perk as anyone who has dealt with a major tantrum will tell you. Still in other ways it make sense. As a parent you really have to learn creative ways to deal with problems and often on the fly; if that doesn't gear you up for learning to stay calm under pressure I'm not sure what will.
