Florida Hospital's New Book Shows Important Link

Florida Hospital's New Book Shows Link Between Forgiveness and Health

"Forgive to Live" is based on the first clinical study of its kind

ORLANDO, Fla., Sep. 18, 2006 - From violence in the Middle East and right here in our community, to the tragedy of Sept. 11 five years ago, to random crime, to road rage, or even to a broken heart, everyone has been hurt by someone or something.  That damage often leads to negative emotions - such as anger and aggression - that can linger for years and have negative effects on life and health. 

Florida Hospital is building a healthier community by getting rid of these negative emotions through forgiveness and a new book titled, Forgive to Live: How Forgiveness Can Save Your Life.  Based on the first clinical study of its kind that demonstrated a link between practicing forgiveness and better health, Forgive to Live offers readers a clear roadmap to uncover their grievance story, eliminate the unresolved anger that they can and can't see, and forgive for good.

"While most of us have been told to forgive, we've never really been told how or why to forgive," said Dr. Dick Tibbits, author of Forgive to Live and chief people officer at Florida Hospital. "This book gives people the steps they need to forgive and to lead a healthier life free of those emotions that are harming them mentally and physically."

A clinical study by Tibbits and Stanford University found that the participants who learned to forgive actually lowered their blood pressure and became healthier.  According to the American Heart Association, nearly one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure.  Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or kidney failure.  In related statistics, according to www.medscape.com, at least 36,000 heart attacks are caused by anger each year in the United States.

Forgive to Live provides positive advice that is applicable to everyone with a grievance story and helps readers

• Explore the three dimensions of forgiveness,
• Understand the 10 principles of forgiveness,
• Learn the medical benefits of forgiveness, and
• Discover what forgiveness means

Forgive to Live is published by Integrity Publishers and is available online and in bookstores nationwide.  Forgive to Live is Florida Hospital's third book.  SuperSized Kids, released in August 2005, reached number 37 on the Amazon Best Seller List. 

For more information, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217.

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