http://www.flickr.com/photos/themastershakesignal/

I was reading a book called, “Age Erasers for Women” by the editors of Prevention Magazine, and I came across an interesting chapter on how forgiveness affects health. I found this to be an interesting topic because as a Christian, I am very familiar with the concept of forgiveness. The bible teaches that we are to forgive each other, and that we need forgiveness from God.

We’ve all experienced an injustice at one time or another and it can be very difficult to get over the hurt and anger that you feel when someone hurts you. That hurt and anger can gnaw at you and even disrupt your work, relationships, and every part of your life.

In “Age Erasers for Women”, research with Dr. Robert Enright from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and S.T. Tina Huang, Ph.D., from the National Chung-Cheng University in Chia-i, Taiwan found that the longer people hold on to resentment, the more if affects their blood pressure readings. Dr. Enright stated, “We found in the people we studied, whenever they were recalling stories of deep hurt, there were spiked increases in blood pressure in those who didn’t have this outpouring of forgiveness.” Those who learned to forgive experienced a drop in blood pressure. Holding onto a grudge for a long time can cause damage to the heart. Dr. Carl Simonton, co-author of “Getting Well Again” stated that “Research shows that a tendency to hold resentment and a marked inability to forgive have been linked with an increased risk of cancer”.

Holding on to resentment and failing to forgive leads to anxiety, depression, and stress. Stress can take a huge toll on the body, leading to ulcers, backache, and a weak immune system.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean you allow yourself to be a victim again. Take action against unfair treatment and stand up for what is right, but learn to let go of resentment. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you condone the behavior of the person who wronged you, or that you need that person to admit they were wrong. That person may never change, but you can change your own mindset and attitude. Learning to forgive and letting go of resentment will lead to improved health.

For more on how emotions affect health, read, “Is Laughter Really the Best Medicine?“