{Author Name [first-name middle-name-initials last-name]}
{Institution Affiliation [name of Author’s institute]}
Summary of the Article
The present study authored by Larson and Larson highlighted an ignored and often excluded factor in the health practices that is the religious approach of the patient. According to the author that the connection of a patient with religious prayers and sentiments determine the status of one's health regardless of patient’s age. Higher the religious commitment, higher is the impact on health. It imposes its positive effects on health conditions as much as the higher education does. The article also evaluated the impact of religious practices on health in comparison of social support (Larson & Larson, 1992).
The article cited the relevant work conducted by other researchers that supported the perspective present in the Larson's article. Various case studies on general diseases, cancer of uterus and cervix as well as general mortality have shown positive links between religious faith and health conditions. Moreover, it is stated that infrequent visits to church or religious places may be considered as a risk factor for disease occurrences. The author has argued that analytically this approach may be false as seen in many cases where people are dedicatedly religious but suffering from fatal diseases at a young age. At epidemiological level, this perspective has been proven as a significant decisive and beneficial factor for stable health and long lives. The author says that it is a striking finding, and patients are unaware of it effects, so it is the responsibility of health care practitioners to inform the patients about the faith-related opportunities and options to remain healthy and avert diseases. The key risks factors for cardiovascular are high blood pressure and practitioners suggest that through making strong relationship with God one can control this risk factor to heart problems. The article demonstrated the effects of faith on lowering diastolic blood pressure even for the smokers. The people who visit church more frequently face little complaints regarding high blood pressure and general diseases.
Among smokers, the dedication to religion revealed 7.1 times lesser probability of abnormal diastolic pressure. Similar findings were observed in mortality rate due to heart diseases. The article refers a proverb from Old Testament saying that people connected with God are content, well-being and comparatively happier. According to the article, making connections with God help them in child raising, protect their children from bad habits and diseases as well as post-surgical outcomes are observed very fast and positive through intercessory prayers conducted on the behalf of the patients. The article is based on an independent research of twenty years; that shows the links between religion, and physical and mental health (Larson & Larson, 1992).
Key risks factor described in the present article is, "no link with religion or God." The frequent religious services and stronger connection with God are portrayed as a protective factor against various general and fatal diseases.
I agree with research at the personal level because I feel the positivity linked with religious services and worships that impose positive outcomes on well-being. Multiple studies support the perspective presented in the article by Larson. In an epidemiological study based article Inzelberg et al., (2013) emphasized the importance and influence of prayers in midlife and its effects on the lowered risk of cognitive impairment in women. This peer-reviewed article supported the evidence of prayers on the cognitive health. This study supported the Larson’s approach saying high levels of religiosity are connected to lower mortality and morbidity (Inzelberg et al., 2013).
References
Inzelberg, R., Afgin, A. E., Massarwa, M., Schechtman, E., Israeli-Korn, S. D., Strugatsky, R.,
& Friedland, R. P. (2013). Prayer at midlife is associated with reduced risk of cognitive
decline in Arabic women. Current Alzheimer Research, 10(3), 340.
Larson, S., & Larson, D. (1992). Clinical Religious Research. How to enhance risk of disease?
CMDS Journal, 23(3), 14-19.
