Volunteering has many benefits for the community, but did you know that it can also improve your health? In addition to tremendous difference it makes in someone’s life, the benefits surrounding one’s health are just as dramatic. Below are a few of the health benefits one acquires when volunteering.
Reduce Stress Levels
You acquire a great sense of appreciation when you dedicate time to those who you’re helping. Volunteering has the ability to reduce blood pressure, which can be linked to a reduction in stress levels and ultimately improve the physical and mental well-being of our body. Those who volunteer may live longer due to lowered feelings of loneliness and stress.
Build New Relationships
Having the opportunity to give back also means having the opportunity to meet new, like-minded individuals who share similar aspirations. Expanding your network is never a bad idea and neither is enhancing social, interpersonal and communication skills. Humans are social beings, therefore, socializing can have positive effects on one’s physical and mental health.
Develop a Sense of Purpose
The work and time that volunteers provide to different organizations often causes people to feel fulfilled and find a new purpose in life. In addition to that, it has the ability to achieve the need for self-actualization, which is the realization or fulfillment of one’s talents and potentialities.
Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.
This past July I volunteered with Villages in Partnership (VIP) on a second medical mission trip to Malawi, Africa. I went as part of a team of 26 Americans and over 50 Malawians; a combination of physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nurses, nursing students and community workers who set up 3 pop up clinics in remote rural villages without electricity or running water. I was a bit nervous before I left on the trip but once I arrived, I was so delighted to be there! The people of Malawi are incredibly warm and inviting and we were greeted with enthusiasm and open arms.
One of the best parts of the trip was being surrounded by children. Over 45% of Malawians are under the age of 15 so there were children everywhere. (1) During the clinics many of the patients were children too. We saw children with malaria, upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections and rashes. I learned that worms were a common cause of persistent vomiting in children and that any child with malaria was also at risk for getting a bacterial bronchitis. We saw children with burns from falling into cooking fires while playing, children with epilepsy who struggled to get medications to keep from having seizures and children born with HIV who were maintained on HIV medications.
I saw one child who had developed a partial paralysis after a viral infection. She was 2 but had never learned to walk or crawl because she was weak from the waist down. With the help of the VIP community workers I arranged to have her seen in the nearest hospital in the city of Zomba by a neurologist. She needed physical therapy and a walker. This was not easy as it required transportation and the money for the consultation and any further treatment. In September I learned that she had been to see the neurologist, was getting the needed physical therapy and was learning to walk with the walker. How amazing that we were able to help this child!
In addition to the children who were patients, we were surrounded by children who wanted to play. Luckily, the nursing students had enough energy to keep up with them. We brought inflatable balls and frisbees with us, but the favorite game was Duck, Duck, Goose! This game went on for hours. Even some of the doctors played during their breaks. Whenever we went out, the children would run up to us and hold our hands as we walked. The older children would speak with us and practice their English as we walked along. They have learned English in school but rarely have the chance to practice in real conversations.
With so many children, it is important that they get an education, and this is one of VIP’s highest priorities. (2) VIP has worked hard to improve the educational resources available to the children in the region. It has helped to rebuild schools, started preschools in the area, distributed solar lamps so that the children can study at night, and sponsored students who cannot afford their school supplies. VIP also sponsors students to go to the University. These students then go on to become teachers, nurses, or medics who come back and work for VIP to give back to the region. They are currently raising funds to build a middle school in the area and a permanent medical clinic. They are doing amazing work!
Volunteerism brings tremendous joy to those who get fulfillment out of helping others that are less fortunate. This act of service has several benefits that are both great for human health, and great for those who receive this assistance. Below are some of the benefits that one can experience when helping those in need.
Enhances Physical, Emotional, & Mental Well-Being
Volunteering has been proven to lower anxiety and depression, improve self-confidence, and minimize stress. Those who frequently help others often experience a “helper’s high” which is a euphoric rush that increases endorphins. On top of these benefits, volunteering also gives people health benefits which include a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as lower cholesterol levels and an improved immune system. With all of these amazing benefits, it’s shocking that more people don’t spend time volunteering!
Positive Impact on Community
Volunteering brings positive effects and changes to communities which make it a better place to be. In times of hardship, volunteering can bring people together and unite the community as one. Even small amounts of time or money donated by volunteering can have a huge, positive impact on a community
Impresses Job Prospects
In addition to establishing credibility on a resume, volunteering increases communication and interpersonal skills by allowing people to interact with their community members more, meet new people, and expand their network. Being surrounded by new people in new environments gives volunteers the opportunity to develop their social skills. Volunteering provides the opportunity to discuss different life experiences while at the same time relating to those who have shared the similar stories.
Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.
It may sound obvious, but a person’s weight may have a dramatic effect on their overall health, especially the health of their heart. Excess weight may be dangerous for your heart because it increases the risk for conditions that lead to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, but that’s not the only reason.
According to Harvard Health, the fat located in your abdomen, otherwise known as visceral fat, lies deep enough to surround your organs and disrupt their function. The fat around the belly is especially metabolically active, this means it creates several factors, such as hormones, that increase the risk for heart disease. Although this may sound scary, if you are proactive with your diet and health, you can lower your risk of metabolic syndrome and heart disease.
How to Fight Back from Metabolic Syndrome
Reduce the amount of candy, cookies, and white bread you eat. Eating a great amount of simple carbs may increase central obesity.
Practice portion control on a regular basis. As silly as it sounds, you can trick your brain into thinking you’re eating more and feel fuller by eating your meals on a salad plate. Also, most restaurants have a tendency to give meal portions that are too large. If you eat a half or third of your meal, you can cut your calorie intake greatly, and have leftovers for another meal!
Make sure you are keeping yourself moving on a regular basis. Briskly walking for 30 minutes a day can help you burn about 150 calories a day!
If you are concerned with the health of your heart, make sure you contact your doctor to get the necessary tests and treatments to keep your heart healthy for years to come.
Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.
There are people who think that disabled people can only be the recipient of volunteerism and not the benefactor, but this ideology is just not true. Volunteering is beneficial to every person no matter their age, race, gender, or disability. Although there are obstacles that disabled people may face while volunteering, such as inaccessibility of volunteer locations or lack of transportation, there are many opportunities out there for those who are disabled or handicapped that want to volunteer. Some examples of volunteer opportunities for the disabled include:
Serving meals at soup kitchens
Stocking shelves at food pantries
Preparing and providing meals to seniors
Cleaning up parks and helping keep communities beautiful
Volunteering at animal shelters
Volunteering at nursing homes
People choose to volunteer every day to obtain new skills, build their confidence, and gain work experience. Volunteering is a great way to better yourself and build connections and networks of support. If you are interested in learning more about the volunteerism opportunities in your community, contact your local government, or do a quick online search! The volunteer possibilities are endless.
Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.
