Happiness Makes for a Healthy Heart
Photo credit: Reuters
Here’s one for our Happiness File…
(Reuters) - People who are usually happy and enthusiastic are less likely to develop heart disease than those who tend to be glum, scientists said on Thursday, and boosting positive emotions could help cut heart health risks.
Interesting read I found via Ode Magazine on Twitter. US researchers are digging into how positive emotions, or lack thereof, affect heart disease. Apparently, much more study is needed, but it’s great that researchers are focusing on this correlation. And the British Heart Foundation advocacy group said the study had similar findings to their own - which had prompted the BHF to delve deeper.
The US research team said one possible reason for the link between happiness and heart risk could be that happier people tend to have longer periods of rest, and therefore may recover more quickly from stressful events and not spend as much time “re-living” them.
Makes sense. But don’t feel doomed if you don’t feel you fall into the “happy group” category. Positive emotions can be like a muscle that needs daily exercise. Focus on it a little bit each day - keep a gratitude journal, spend a little time doing things you enjoy, etc… something that connects you with your deepest self. The more you practice, the easier it gets.
