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Gratitude for Heart Health

How does practicing gratitude help your heart?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that high blood pressure caused more than half a million deaths in 2019, and fewer than 25% of U.S. adults with high blood pressure have it under control. Chronic stress can raise blood pressure and harm your heart by inflaming the arteries.

Practicing gratitude can help lower stress, reduce blood pressure, and decrease inflammation, all of which are good for heart health. Research shows that gratitude also improves mood, reduces stress, and helps with sleep, as it triggers feel-good chemicals in the brain that ease anxiety and depression.

One simple way to incorporate gratitude into your daily routine is by reflecting on key aspects of your day. Take five minutes at night before bed or around the dinner table to consider the following:

1. Health: Appreciate what your body did for you today, from breathing to the ability to move and hold loved ones.
2. Eat: Think about the meals that nourished you. Savor a particularly delicious meal or explore healthy recipes to fuel your body.
3. Activity: Recall a moment of enjoyment, whether from exercise, a completed task, or a quiet moment of reflection.
4. Relationship: Acknowledge someone special you look forward to connecting with—someone who brings joy, support, or laughter into your life.
5. Time: Be thankful for the gift of time—whether it’s the current moment or extra time for yourself or loved ones.

By practicing gratitude in these small ways, you can strengthen your heart, improve your mental well-being, and reduce stress, ultimately leading to better overall health.