Mental Health Benefits Of A Fireplace
For centuries, fireplaces have drawn people to them. They gave warmth to the weary traveler and light to those who endured months of gray skies. It makes sense, then, that not only did a fireplace help them survive long winters, but it also benefited their mental health. New research confirms this theory and offers insight into enhancing your mental well-being. With that in mind, let’s look at the mental health benefits of a fireplace.
A Fireplace is Good For Mental and Physical Health
Recent studies have found that having a fireplace offers numerous distinct benefits, both mental and physical. Here are a few things having a fireplace can do for you.
Fireplaces Fight Anxiety
The fact that a fireplace can help alleviate anxiety should come as no surprise to those who own one. The flames in a fireplace have an almost mesmerizing effect on someone who sits and stares into the flames. They react as if hypnotized, and begin to relax their muscles and slow their breathing. It allows someone to clear their mind from the day’s stressors as they concentrate on the fire dancing in front of them.
The effect of flames in a fireplace on a person is very similar to meditation. It significantly reduces anxiety in much the same way meditation does. Perhaps that is one of the many reasons humans have been drawn to fire since they first learned to create a spark.
Fireplaces Can Lower Blood Pressure
It stands to reason that if a fireplace can reduce anxiety, it can also lower blood pressure. Recent studies tested subjects by placing them in front of a television with a burning log on a loop and with the sound turned down. Even with a video simulation of a fireplace, their blood pressure slowly began to decrease. Why is that significant? Because it shows that just the act of watching flames can reduce blood pressure. When the sound of cracking and popping was turned up, the results were even more dramatic; the test subjects saw a greater drop in their blood pressure. Don’t have a fireplace or chimney? Give us a call, we have a wide range of top quality wood-burning stoves that can be installed in most spaces in your home.
Fireplaces Increase Socialization
For decades now, mental health researchers have noted that being around other people helps fight issues such as anxiety and depression. A fireplace seems to increase the desire of those who are down to be around others. This phenomenon may explain why fireplaces have been the heart of a home for centuries. Not only was a fireplace used for cooking food and providing warmth, it also gave light to storytellers and troubadours alike.
Lower Power Bills Reduce Stress
One of the main benefits of owning a fireplace is that it helps keep your house warm, so you don’t have to pay higher heating bills. Savings are one of the reasons people choose to have fireplaces in their homes. When you have lower power bills, it reduces stress and gives you peace of mind.
To Sum Up
If you are looking for a way to relax at the end of a long day, want to help lower your blood pressure, and have the benefit of lower power bills, then a fireplace is the right choice for you. Felegemacher is here to help with all of your fireplace and chimney needs, from expert installations to reliable chimney services, we are just one call away!
Trust Felgemacher Masonry to Install Your Fireplace
Is your blood pressure a little high? Do you feel overwhelmed and anxious at the end of the day? If you are in the Buffalo, NY, Rochester, NY, or Charlotte, NC, areas, contact us right away. We will be happy to discuss installing a new fireplace or placing an insert in your old fireplace and start you on your journey to the mental health benefits of a fireplace.
