Health
Kindness May Shield the Heart: Neuroscientist Links Empathy to Better Cardiovascular Health
Kind-hearted individuals are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases than those prone to anger, according to Jonathan Benito, a neuroscience researcher and professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
As reported by AZERTAC, citing international media, Benito explained that kind people not only face fewer heart and brain-related illnesses, but they also tend to live longer lives. His findings suggest that emotional disposition has a direct impact on physical health.
The neuroscientist also emphasized that irritable individuals often lack a clear understanding of what happiness truly means. They exhibit higher levels of cortisol—the stress hormone—and fibrinogen, a protein linked to blood clotting. These elevated levels can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
“People who are frequently angry tend to have a significantly lower quality of life,” Benito concluded.
