5 Medical Benefits of Reading Books!
With the development of digital information, the habit of reading books has begun to be abandoned. Some people prefer to find information through search engines than dig deeper through reading books.
In fact, the habit of reading books can not only make you smarter and rich in insight, but also have many benefits in the medical field. Here is the explanation!
1. Strengthens the brain
freepik.com/rawpixel-comLike sports that can strengthen your body, reading activities can also strengthen brain function. A study published in the journal NeuroReport involving 16 children aged 5-15 years.
Observations using a scanner magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the researchers concluded that reading activity involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain.
Children who read more often showed different development than children who were more skilled at reading but had less frequent reading. The more often you read, the stronger and more sophisticated the brain’s networks will be.
Another study published in the journal Brain Connectivity observed the effect of reading novels on brain function using MRI devices. The participants were asked to read a novel Pompeii for 9 days.
As a result, as the tension in the story grew, there were more areas in the brain that were active.
Based on the results of brain scans during the reading period up to several days thereafter, it appears that reading novels can improve connectivity in the brain, especially in the somatosensory cortex (somatosensory cortex), which is an important area in the brain responsible for responding to physical sensations such as movement and pain.
2. Increase the sense of empathy
freepik.com/pressfoto Empathy is the ability to be able to understand what other people feel, position themselves in their situation, and see things from a different point of view. This empathy is important in human relationships.
Skill to empathize is also known as theory of mind, namely a number of skills that play an important role in building, directing, and maintaining social relationships. Without it, the relationship that occurs between humans is not harmonious.
To increase empathy, you can train it through reading activities. In a study published in the journal Science In conclusion, reading fiction literature that explores the inner life of each character can increase a person’s ability to better understand the feelings and beliefs of others.
So, don’t limit yourself to reading non-fiction! Besides entertaining, fiction books also have good benefits, you know.
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3. Reducing the risk of brain disease
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Editor’s picks
freepik.com/tirachardzLaunch The Best Brain Possible, based on research published in the journal Cochrane LibraryMental stimulation, such as reading, composing pictures, or playing chess, can reduce the risk of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, and slow the symptoms so they don’t get worse.
The researchers found that mental stimulation increased memory test scores and thought processes in participants with dementia. This result is equivalent to a slowdown in symptoms of up to 6-9 months.
In addition, mental stimulation is also able to improve the quality of life of dementia patients, which can be seen from their better communication and social interactions.
It is known, leaving the brain ‘idle’, over time can reduce brain function. Information in the brain that is rarely accessed, or behavior that is rarely used, can lower neural pathways until the connection is completely cut. This process is known as synaptic pruning or synaptic pruning.
In essence, the more often the brain is used or the more active it is, the more its function increases. Therefore, frequently train your brain with various activities such as reading, playing crossword puzzles, and so on so that your brain continues to be in prime condition until old age.
4. Reduce stress
freepik.com/gpointstudioStress has long been linked to the risk of various diseases. Quoting Medical News Today, stress is believed to be the cause of 60 percent of various diseases experienced by humans. It is known, stress can increase the risk of stroke by 50 percent, and heart disease by 40 percent.
The problem is, stress cannot be avoided. Because the name is alive, there will always be problems that can stress a person out. All you can do is minimize stress so it doesn’t endanger health.
One of them is by doing the habit of reading books. According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Sussex, England, reading activity can reduce stress by 68 percent. This result is even better than other stress-reducing activities, such as listening to music or walking.
One of the researchers, Dr. David Lewis, a neuropsychologist at Mindlab International in Sussex, explained that just reading 6 minutes (books, newspapers, etc.) has had a positive impact, namely being able to reduce heart rate and muscle tension.
He continued, it does not matter what book you are reading, as long as you are able to enjoy it, it can help you escape from daily worries and pressures, and enter into the world of imagination created by the author.
5. Extend life
freepik.com/prostoolehAnother benefit that you can get from the habit of reading is to extend your life. Studies published in journals Innovation in Aging involving as many as 3,635 adults.
After 12 years of observation, the researchers found that those who read books were able to live 2 years longer than those who did not read, or read anything other than books (magazines and other media).
Now, after describing the various benefits of reading the book above, how about it, are you interested in starting to try it? Cheer up, try to invite your friends to make it even more exciting!
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