Not just a hobby or a need to seek knowledge, there are many benefits of reading books for one's physical and mental health. As we know, for some people reading books is a hobby. In addition to getting some information and as a means of education, reading is also able to increase imagination and provide a recreational function. The body seems to recharge after reading. Then, what are the benefits of reading for health?
Various Benefits of Reading Books for Health
Reporting from the health website Blog Solahart Handal, there are various benefits of reading books that we can get, such as:
1. Strengthens Brain Health
The activity of reading a book will involve a number of complex networks and signals in the brain, so that if we are used to it, the brain network will strengthen itself. This is also reinforced by a study of participants who were asked to read a novel for 9 full days and the results showed that an MRI examination of the brain showed an increase in the performance of the somatosensory cortex or the part of the brain that responds to physical sensations.
2. Increase Intelligence
In addition to strengthening the network and brain health, of course the benefits of reading books can increase our intelligence. a 2014 study said that children who have been able to read books since the age of 7 will or tend to get higher scores on IQ tests later in life.
In addition, reading can also increase our vocabulary and if we are accustomed to it since childhood, then when we grow up, people who are accustomed to reading books have the potential to be smarter and smarter as adults.
3. Relieves Stress
Another benefit of reading books is being able to relieve stress. A study from the University of Sussex, UK, says that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%. People who read a book, for at least 6 minutes, can experience a decrease in heart rate and muscle tension.
This can be a way to completely and positively relieve stress in yourself. Given that stress is one of the factors that cause serious diseases such as stroke and heart attack, reading books is an important and recommended thing to do.
4. Slows Cognitive Decline
Over time and as we age, we usually experience cognitive decline. Brain function will decline and we tend to be more difficult to remember things. Some studies say that reading books can slow down and prevent cognitive decline.
In fact, disorders such as Alzheimer's can be prevented. Similarly, the results of a study at Rush University Medical Center, United States, in 2013 which suggested that reading books can also slow down dementia or impaired memory and way of thinking.
5. Increase Empathy
Do you enjoy reading fiction books or novels? It turns out that the benefits of reading books, especially if you focus on the plot of a character, the person will feel an increased ability to understand the feelings and beliefs of those around him or in other words, their empathy will increase.
Researchers call this a “theory of mind”, which is a person's ability to build, navigate, and maintain social relationships with their surroundings. Even though in reality this does not happen instantly, it needs something repeated or routinely done.
6. Improve Sleep Quality
Reading books can be one solution for those of you who have trouble sleeping. The Mayo Clinic says that creating a bedtime ritual, such as reading a book, can ease the body's transition from being awake to being sleepy. This is what is believed if physical books (not from gadgets), can improve sleep quality.
In addition to the things above, the benefits of reading other books are believed to be able to relieve symptoms of depression and increase one's life expectancy. It turns out that by reading, not only the brain and the physical are benefited, but mental health can also be supported. So, let's get used to reading books from now on!
