How does happiness help you stay healthy?

1. Build and maintain a healthy lifestyle Happiness helps build many positive life habits for people's overall health. Happy people tend to eat a healthier diet with more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. According to a study of more than 7,000 adults, those with good mental health were 47% more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables than those who were less happy. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps provide many health benefits such as a reduced risk of diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases.
In the same study of more than 7000 adults, researchers found that physically active people were 33% more likely to be physically active with 10 or more hours of physical activity per week . Regular physical activity will help strengthen bones and joints and increase energy levels, reduce body fat and prevent high blood pressure. Moreover, happiness can also help people improve sleep habits and quality, increase work productivity, increase concentration, as well as good exercise performance and maintain a healthy weight. thought.
A study of 700 adults found that sleep problems including insomnia and trouble sleeping were 47% higher in those who reported low levels of happiness. Additionally, a 2016 review of 44 studies concluded that, although there is a link between positive happiness and sleep outcomes, more research from well-designed studies is needed. confirm the relationship.

2. Strengthen the Immune System A healthy immune system is very important to human health. Research has shown that being happier can help keep the immune system functioning properly, helping to reduce the risk of some common illnesses like pneumonia and colds. According to a study of 300 healthy people, their risk of catching a cold was monitored after being exposed to a common cold virus through nasal drops. Those with the lowest happiness quotient were three times more likely to catch the common cold than those who were happier.
According to another study, researchers injected 81 college students with a hepatitis B vaccine. Happier students were nearly twice as likely to have an antibody response. The impact of happiness on the immune system is not exactly known. This may be due to the impact of happiness on the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that helps regulate the immune system, digestion, hormones and stress levels. Furthermore, happy people are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors that keep the immune system strong, such as regular physical activity and healthy eating habits.

3. Helps Fight Stress Usually, excessive stress can cause an increase in cortisol levels. This is a hormone that contributes to many harms including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, changes in sleep habits, and increased blood pressure. Several studies have demonstrated that in people with happier lives, cortisol levels tend to be lower. However, in fact, a study of more than 200 adults in which those engaged in a variety of stressful tasks found that cortisol levels were 32 percent lower in the happiest people than in those who weren't. happy.
These effects are likely to persist over time. When researchers followed the same group of adults three years later, there was still a 20 percent difference in cortisol levels between the happiest and the least happy people.

4. Protect your heart health Health and happiness are closely linked. Happiness can help protect heart health by stabilizing blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. A study of over 6,500 people over the age of 65 found that being positive can reduce the risk of high blood pressure by up to 9%. Happiness can also reduce the risk of some of the biggest causes of death worldwide from heart disease. Over the 10-year study period, even when risk factors such as age, blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure were taken into account, happiness was associated with a 22% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease. A systematic review of 30 studies found that in adults with heart disease leading happy lives reduced the risk of death by 11%.
It is important to note that some of these effects may be due to an increase in heart-healthy behaviors such as avoiding smoking, being physically active and maintaining a healthy eating habit. So not all studies have found a link between happiness and heart disease. In fact, a recent 12-year study that looked at nearly 1,500 people found no link between positive happiness and cardiovascular disease risk.
A longitudinal study published in 2015 in 32,000 people evaluated the effect of happiness on life expectancy. The results showed that the risk of death over the 30-year study period was 14% lower in happy people than in unhappy people. The results of a large review of the results of 70 studies have looked at the link between positive happiness and longevity in both healthy people and in patients with pre-existing medical conditions, such as: heart or kidney disease. The lives of people with a higher happiness quotient were found to have a positive effect on their life expectancy, with healthy individuals reducing the risk of death by 18% and those with pre-existing medical conditions by 2%.
The mechanism by which happiness affects life expectancy is partly explained by an increase in beneficial behaviors that prolong survival, such as not using drugs, not using smoking, and participating in physical activity, active treatment of illness, and good sleep, however the mechanism by which is still poorly understood.

5. May Help With Pain Arthritis is one of the common conditions associated with inflammation and degeneration of the joints that causes symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness. The condition usually worsens with age. Some studies show that arthritis patients who lead happier lives may experience reduced pain and stiffness associated with the condition. Happiness has also been shown to improve physical function in patients with arthritis. A study of 1,000 people with painful knee arthritis found that happier people walked 8.5% more each day than less happy people.
In addition, happiness can also help relieve pain in other conditions. A study of nearly 1,000 patients recovering from a stroke found that the happiest people had 13% lower pain scores three months after leaving the hospital. Researchers have shown that happy people may have lower pain levels because their positive emotions help broaden perspectives and encourage new, more positive thoughts and ideas. They believe this can help patients develop an effective plan while reducing their perception of pain.
There are other ways in which happiness improves health. A handful of studies have found the link between happiness and health benefits is different. While these initial findings are all good, further studies are needed to confirm these associations.
May reduce illness: Sickness is a health condition characterized by lack of health and balance. According to a 7-year study in over 1,500 elderly people, the happiest people had a 3% lower risk of illness. May reduce stroke rate: The rate of cerebrovascular accident has increased in recent years. The results of a study in older adults showed that an active diet reduced the risk of stroke by 26%.

6. Measures to increase happiness Happiness and health are two closely related issues. Happiness not only makes your spiritual life better, but also extremely beneficial to your own health. Scientifically proven ways to become happier include:
Express gratitude: You can boost your happiness by focusing on the things you're grateful for. Every morning when you wake up or before you go to bed, put down your pen and write down the good things of the day and the things for which you are grateful, and think about them all the time. Get moving: Aerobic exercise (also known as cardio) is one of the most effective types of exercise for increasing feelings of well-being. In addition, activities such as walking, cycling or practicing tennis are not only good for physical health but also help improve mood. Sleep well: Lack of sleep can negatively affect emotions, so a good night's sleep will help you become happier. Make time for outside space: Going for a walk, gardening, or simply up to 5 minutes of outdoor exercise can boost your mood. Meditation: Meditation is one of the exercises that can increase feelings of happiness as well as many other benefits such as reducing stress and improving sleep. Eat a healthier diet: Research shows that the more fresh fruits and vegetables you eat, the happier you'll feel. Furthermore, these foods will also improve your overall health in the long run. In short, health is happiness and happiness can bring great benefits to your health. Therefore, in order to have good health, you need to apply more positive living habits, a relaxed mind to always feel happy, which in turn can help fight stress, strengthen the immune system, protect heart health and pain relief, possibly even increasing life expectancy.