Active Social life is a Key to good health
If you are part of social group, you are more likely to stay away from condition like stroke, dementia and even the common cold. New researchers at the University of Exeter and Queensland, Australia, suggests that membership of social groups has a positive effect on health and well-being
The researchers highlights the importance of belonging to a range of social group of hanging onto social group, and of building new social group in dealing with life changes such as having a stroke and being diagnosed with dementia. The researchers reviewed a number of previous studies, which identified a link between group membership, and physical and mental health.
Membership of groups from football teams to book clubs and voluntary societies gives us a sense of social identity. This is an indispensable part of who we are and what we need to be in order to lead rich and fulfilling lives. For this reason groups are central to mental functioning, health and well- being. A study showed that being able to maintain valued group memberships played as important a role in positive recovery as an ability to overcome cognitive difficulties
Clowns ease anxiety
A clown in the operating room may relax anxious children who are about to undergo surgery, but entertainer has to learn to keep out of the way, Italian researchers said.
A study of 40 children between four months and three years old who were accompanied at least one parent prior to minor surgery found having a clown present significantly reduced anxiety level for both child and parent. Three out of five children suffer anxiety before surgery, according to the report published in the journal Pediatrics.
Clowns succeeded in distracting the children until the administration of anesthesia, but apparently annoyed doctors and nurses
