Prayer 'no aid to heart patients'

Well I could have told them that! Having cared for my terminally ill mother I know that if I had stood at the end of her bed mumbling away it would have really annoyed her. However, talking to her, feeding her, giving her drinks, looking after her personal needs, sorting out her medication, playing her favourite music, holding her hand and hugging her all made her last few months better. Pray for the soul by all means, but the body needs a more practical approach.

Here's the story:-

Praying for patients undergoing heart operations does not improve their outcomes, a US study suggests.

A study found those who were prayed for were as likely to have a setback in hospital, be re-admitted, or die within six months as those not prayed for.

The Duke University Medical Center study of 700 patients, in the Lancet, said music, image and touch therapy did appear to reduce patients' distress.

Heart experts said patients could benefit from feeling more optimistic.

Source BBC News