CAN YOU F E E L T H E L OV E ?
THE SECRET TO LIVING A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE
The human brain is an incredibly powerful organ. It solves complex problems, recalls forgotten memories, and triggers a dizzying array of emotions. But its most incredible power is the effect it can have on the rest of the body. When it comes to love, well, our brains certainly love it, and our bodies reflect that. LESS STRESS
Medical Center healed nearly twice as fast on people who experienced consistent warmth and care than those who experienced hostility. In fact, the latter group needed almost a full additional day to achieve the same amount of healing as the first group. LONGER, HAPPIER LIVES Being surrounded by love may even save your life. A statistic from the National Health Interview Survey states that single people face a 58% higher risk of mortality. Further bolstering that claim is the Harvard Health Blog, which claims happily married participants experience better health as they age when compared to peers in unhappy partnerships. In fact, the blog asserts, “People in stressful, unhappy marriages may be worse off than a single person who is surrounded by supportive and caring friends, family,
Human beings thrive on a sense of connection and belonging, and studies have shown that love actually has positive effects on a person’s physical health as well as mental. The security and commitment felt in a loving relationship are shown to reduce stress by stunting the production of cortisol, the body’s stress- inducing hormone. Less stress means lower blood pressure, a healthier heart, and a lower risk of stroke, especially in men. HEALTHIER IMMUNE SYSTEMS
and loved ones.”
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that calm, happy people can fight common colds and the flu more easily than those who are anxious or depressed. The physical benefits of love even go as far as healing wounds quicker. Small injuries inflicted on a wide test group at Ohio State University
So, it seems the results are in: Loving someone is a healthy lifestyle choice. Even having a strong network of friends and family boosts your odds of living a long life by 50%. So, get out there and make the healthy choice for yourself and those around you by leading a life full of love.
ME E T MI CHAE L BANOME !
Dr. Michael “Mike” Banome has been with our clinic for over three years, bringing a half-decade of physical therapy experience to the table. A sports lover with a passion for rehabilitation, he’s proven to be a perfect fit for our team and a favorite amongst our patients. Given his caring nature and medical expertise, it may surprise you that, for most of his life, Mike didn’t expect to become a therapist.
“I played in a neighborhood football league in college,” he tells us, explaining how he broke his clavicle during a game. “This was shortly after my dad’s surgery, so I once again got to see the good physical therapy could do.” Inspired by these life events, Mike changed course, setting out to help others in the way he and his father had been cared for. Still, that’s not to say he left his passion for science behind. “Most people become therapists to get away from math,” Mike laughs, “but I like physical therapy’s overlap with physics. It helps me understand why exercises work.” This passion for education, combined with his love of service is what makes this would-be engineer such a great doctor. “Seeing patients over the years, you get to hear so many of their stories,” Mike reflects. “You get to know about their families and their history.” Most of all, he enjoys being part of his patients’ success stories, seeing them succeed at their goals. Thanks for sharing your own story with us, Mike!
“In undergrad, I was studying engineering,” Mike recalls adding, “I’ve always liked math.” However, as schooling went on, he began to find he wasn’t as interested in the removed problem solving of being an engineer, and began to see ways he could help people more directly. “My dad had hip replacement surgery,” Mike says. “That’s when I got to see physical therapy up close.” Witnessing the role therapy played in his father’s recovery, Mike became more interested in the profession. Working to improve people’s health certainly seemed more rewarding than working to improve structures or machines. Then, Mike had an even more personal experience.
2 ▪ 718.747.2019 ▪ THEPTDOCTOR.COM
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter