5 Ways to Be Happier

[Guest guest]

5 Ways to Be Happier

By Collier Cool

Being in a positive mood can actually make you healthier. So start

smiling, and reap the benefits! These 5 suggestions will show you

how.

" Dr. Happiness " Is Real

If there were a Dr. Happiness, would you rush to get in line to see

him, especially if his prescriptions were for things like joy, inner

peace, and contentment (no side effects identified)? Of course you

would! And the really jolly news is that he's not fictitious. Dr.

Happiness is a nickname given to Ed Diener, PhD, professor of

psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Okay,

he doesn't dole out joy, but he has studied it, plus other positive

emotional states we're all capable of. And research shows that their

benefits include boosting our immune system and defenses against

illnesses ranging from colds and flu to cancer and heart disease.

Here's a look at the emotions that can actually help your body

perform its best -- and why.

Laughter

Have a chuckle -- and your arteries will thank you. A March 2005

study at the University of land Medical Center, in Baltimore,

showed for the first time that mirth may promote heart health by

making blood vessels work more efficiently. Twenty healthy,

nonsmoking male and female volunteers watched clips from two movies

selected to provoke opposite emotional extremes -- the disturbingly

violent opening scene of 1998's Saving Private and a hilarious

sequence from Kingpin, a 1996 comedy. The effect on an artery in the

arm was measured before and after by ultrasound.

The two films produced dramatically different effects. Viewing the

Private scene caused the volunteers' blood vessels to

constrict, reducing flow by an average of 35 percent. Chortling over

the comedy, however, increased the subjects' blood flow by 22

percent -- an improvement similar to that induced by aerobic

exercise, without the aches and pains, as researchers noted.

Although they aren't sure why laughter has such a powerfully

positive effect, the experts speculate that either the movements of

the diaphragm as we chuckle, or possibly the release of such feel-

good chemicals as endorphins, may be the explanation.

Love

Adoring your spouse can also help keep your heart healthy, according

to a September 2003 study. The study found that women who rated

their romantic relationship as highly satisfactory had fewer

cardiovascular risk factors, says C. Gallo, PhD, assistant

professor of psychology at San Diego State University and lead

author of the study. " Not only did the happily married women have a

higher level of good cholesterol and a lower one of bad cholesterol,

but their blood pressure was also lower, compared to single or

unhappily married women, who tended to show a blood pressure

increase after menopause. "

Why would the state of your union have any effect on your

cholesterol levels? First, a loving relationship means less stress,

which means that fewer hormones such as cortisol -- one of the chief

culprits in weight gain -- are released. Less weight gain, in turn,

helps decrease the threat of heart disease, the number one killer of

American women. Indeed, the study, which tracked about 500 women

ages 42 to 50 over a 13-year period, found that happy wives

typically avoided weight gain, even during middle age, a time when

women often pack on extra pounds, while those who were single or

unhappily married usually got heavier over the years. That's

dangerous, because being overweight ups the risk for diabetes,

cancer, and heart disease.

Support from your spouse can also boost your motivation to ditch

heart-harming habits, such as smoking or a high-fat diet. Consider

Glynis Buschmann, of Yuba City, California. Until her marriage, in

2002, she was a confirmed couch potato whose only exercise was an

occasional walk. " Just before and I married, he added me to

his gym membership and since then, I've started working out three to

five times a week, with exercise machines, weights, and the

treadmill, " says the 42-year-old secretary. " I was already slender,

but my husband has commented on how much healthier I look. My

posture is better, I feel more confident, and I sleep better knowing

that I'm beside someone who loves me. "

Determination

We've all heard the expression " when the going gets tough, the tough

get going. " It turns out those tough types -- a group known

as " thrivers " -- may boast better health than those who shrink from

adversity. Researchers are looking for a link between a hardy spirit

and a healthy body. A 1998 study conducted by UCLA followed 40

people who had suffered a bereavement. Those most determined to find

meaning in their loss also showed improved immunity to illness.

" Literature is full of stories about people who make transcendent

life changes after a tragedy, but nobody has really looked at this

medically, " says nne Bower, PhD, assistant professor of

psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA. Dr. Bower tracked

women who had lost a relative -- usually their mother -- to breast

cancer and evaluated their immune functions.

Those who placed the greatest importance on setting and achieving

emotionally significant goals, such as improving relationships, had

the highest level of activity in their " natural killer " cells, the

immune-system soldiers that attack viruses and certain kinds of

tumors. " The next step is to uncover exactly how pursuing meaning

gets under the skin and influences the immune system, " says Dr.

Bower, who is currently studying the impact of a breast cancer

diagnosis on women's life goals.

There's already some evidence, but no hard proof, that determination

may make a difference for breast cancer patients, according to a

2002 Arizona State University and University of Vermont review.

Drawing on past studies, researchers report that " active coping, "

attacking the problem through direct action instead of wishful

thinking, denial, or emotional withdrawal, is linked to better

immune-system function and hormonal balance, factors that play a

role in combating the spread of the disease. This suggests that

coping style may influence the patient's outcome.

Expressiveness

Women who stifle their feelings are making a potentially fatal

mistake, found a February 2005 Boston University study of about

4,000 people. Although the study was originally designed to probe

the role marital happiness plays in heart-disease risk, the doctors

were amazed to discover that venting emotions during arguments

actually helps wives -- but not husbands -- live longer. Married

women who usually engaged in " self-silencing, " defined as bottling

up their feelings to avoid conflict with their mate, were more than

four times more likely to die of all causes during the 10-year study

than those who let their feelings fly during fights.

" Ironically, clamming up may have helped preserve the women's

relationships, but it definitely didn't preserve their lives " says

Elaine D. Eaker, ScD, lead investigator of the study and president

of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises, in Chili, Wisconsin. Although men

were actually more prone than women to keep quiet during disputes,

doing so had no impact on their health or life span. The reasons for

this gender gap are currently a mystery, says Dr. Eaker. " But what

we do know is that men and women are physiologically stressed by

different aspects of marriage, so we need to dig deeper to find out

why. "

Forty-nine-year-old ne M. , a wife and mother in

Cleveland, Ohio, says her husband's insistence on knowing how she

really feels about things has helped her health. " I'm prone to

bottling up my feelings, which has often caused a flare-up of my

arthritis pain, " she says. " I also become anxious and tend toward

depression, which only makes the problem worse. But my husband,

Craig, is a great listener and encourages me to empty whatever

negative emotions are coming up for me. Sometimes he asks, 'Is there

anything else you need to say?' and other times, he just lets me

know that he understands. "

That's soothing to both her spirit and her achy joints, she

says. " Because I feel the freedom to share what's on my heart and

mind without worrying that my husband might be upset or angry, I've

become so much more relaxed. And then I feel much less pain and

swelling. I know there is a connection. I ask for what I need from

my husband, whether it's a whole-body massage or an opportunity to

vent. Having such a great marriage has made a huge difference in how

happy -- and healthy -- I feel. "

Pleasure

Enjoyable experiences pump up your immune system, confirms Carl

Charnetski, PhD, a professor of psychology at Wilkes University, in

Pennsylvania, and author of Feeling Good Is Good for You. And the

most pleasurable way to protect yourself from colds and the flu is

by having regular sex, he found in a recent study. Men and women who

made love once or twice a week had 30 percent higher levels of

immunoglobulin A (IgA, a mucous membrane antibody that fights

respiratory viruses and bacteria) than those who abstained and -- to

everyone's surprise -- those who had sex more than three times a

week. " Aristotle was right: All things in moderation -- including

sex, " says Dr. Charnetski. " While it's unclear why too much is

harmful, it may be that these people are in obsessive or poor

relationships that cause them stress and anxiety, which in turn

suppresses IgA. " If more sex isn't on your agenda, try listening to

relaxing music, playing with pets, or even cultivating an optimistic

attitude. Research shows these things increase the antibody, too.

" We've known for a long time that stress is hard on the immune

system, but what's new is finding out that pleasure makes it work

much better, " he says. " Anything enjoyable, from eating chocolate --

or just smelling it -- to making love has the potential to raise

IgA. Even anticipating something nice that's going to happen later

in the week stimulates your body's defenses against illness. It

looks as though pleasure has the opposite cumulative effect that

chronic tension does: Over time, injecting frequent small jolts of

joy in your life starts you on an upward spiral to better health. "

Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal magazine, December 2005.

[Guest guest]

Thanks my sweet Robyn!!! I needed this!!

OXOXOX

>

> 5 Ways to Be Happier

> By Collier Cool

>

> Being in a positive mood can actually make you healthier. So start

> smiling, and reap the benefits! These 5 suggestions will show you

> how.

>

>

> " Dr. Happiness " Is Real

>

> If there were a Dr. Happiness, would you rush to get in line to

see

> him, especially if his prescriptions were for things like joy,

inner

> peace, and contentment (no side effects identified)? Of course you

> would! And the really jolly news is that he's not fictitious. Dr.

> Happiness is a nickname given to Ed Diener, PhD, professor of

> psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Okay,

> he doesn't dole out joy, but he has studied it, plus other

positive

> emotional states we're all capable of. And research shows that

their

> benefits include boosting our immune system and defenses against

> illnesses ranging from colds and flu to cancer and heart disease.

> Here's a look at the emotions that can actually help your body

> perform its best -- and why.

>

> Laughter

>

> Have a chuckle -- and your arteries will thank you. A March 2005

> study at the University of land Medical Center, in Baltimore,

> showed for the first time that mirth may promote heart health by

> making blood vessels work more efficiently. Twenty healthy,

> nonsmoking male and female volunteers watched clips from two

movies

> selected to provoke opposite emotional extremes -- the

disturbingly

> violent opening scene of 1998's Saving Private and a

hilarious

> sequence from Kingpin, a 1996 comedy. The effect on an artery in

the

> arm was measured before and after by ultrasound.

>

> The two films produced dramatically different effects. Viewing the

> Private scene caused the volunteers' blood vessels to

> constrict, reducing flow by an average of 35 percent. Chortling

over

> the comedy, however, increased the subjects' blood flow by 22

> percent -- an improvement similar to that induced by aerobic

> exercise, without the aches and pains, as researchers noted.

> Although they aren't sure why laughter has such a powerfully

> positive effect, the experts speculate that either the movements

of

> the diaphragm as we chuckle, or possibly the release of such feel-

> good chemicals as endorphins, may be the explanation.

>

> Love

>

> Adoring your spouse can also help keep your heart healthy,

according

> to a September 2003 study. The study found that women who rated

> their romantic relationship as highly satisfactory had fewer

> cardiovascular risk factors, says C. Gallo, PhD, assistant

> professor of psychology at San Diego State University and lead

> author of the study. " Not only did the happily married women have

a

> higher level of good cholesterol and a lower one of bad

cholesterol,

> but their blood pressure was also lower, compared to single or

> unhappily married women, who tended to show a blood pressure

> increase after menopause. "

>

> Why would the state of your union have any effect on your

> cholesterol levels? First, a loving relationship means less

stress,

> which means that fewer hormones such as cortisol -- one of the

chief

> culprits in weight gain -- are released. Less weight gain, in

turn,

> helps decrease the threat of heart disease, the number one killer

of

> American women. Indeed, the study, which tracked about 500 women

> ages 42 to 50 over a 13-year period, found that happy wives

> typically avoided weight gain, even during middle age, a time when

> women often pack on extra pounds, while those who were single or

> unhappily married usually got heavier over the years. That's

> dangerous, because being overweight ups the risk for diabetes,

> cancer, and heart disease.

>

> Support from your spouse can also boost your motivation to ditch

> heart-harming habits, such as smoking or a high-fat diet. Consider

> Glynis Buschmann, of Yuba City, California. Until her marriage, in

> 2002, she was a confirmed couch potato whose only exercise was an

> occasional walk. " Just before and I married, he added me to

> his gym membership and since then, I've started working out three

to

> five times a week, with exercise machines, weights, and the

> treadmill, " says the 42-year-old secretary. " I was already

slender,

> but my husband has commented on how much healthier I look. My

> posture is better, I feel more confident, and I sleep better

knowing

> that I'm beside someone who loves me. "

>

> Determination

>

> We've all heard the expression " when the going gets tough, the

tough

> get going. " It turns out those tough types -- a group known

> as " thrivers " -- may boast better health than those who shrink

from

> adversity. Researchers are looking for a link between a hardy

spirit

> and a healthy body. A 1998 study conducted by UCLA followed 40

> people who had suffered a bereavement. Those most determined to

find

> meaning in their loss also showed improved immunity to illness.

>

> " Literature is full of stories about people who make transcendent

> life changes after a tragedy, but nobody has really looked at this

> medically, " says nne Bower, PhD, assistant professor of

> psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA. Dr. Bower tracked

> women who had lost a relative -- usually their mother -- to breast

> cancer and evaluated their immune functions.

>

> Those who placed the greatest importance on setting and achieving

> emotionally significant goals, such as improving relationships,

had

> the highest level of activity in their " natural killer " cells, the

> immune-system soldiers that attack viruses and certain kinds of

> tumors. " The next step is to uncover exactly how pursuing meaning

> gets under the skin and influences the immune system, " says Dr.

> Bower, who is currently studying the impact of a breast cancer

> diagnosis on women's life goals.

>

> There's already some evidence, but no hard proof, that

determination

> may make a difference for breast cancer patients, according to a

> 2002 Arizona State University and University of Vermont review.

> Drawing on past studies, researchers report that " active coping, "

> attacking the problem through direct action instead of wishful

> thinking, denial, or emotional withdrawal, is linked to better

> immune-system function and hormonal balance, factors that play a

> role in combating the spread of the disease. This suggests that

> coping style may influence the patient's outcome.

>

> Expressiveness

>

> Women who stifle their feelings are making a potentially fatal

> mistake, found a February 2005 Boston University study of about

> 4,000 people. Although the study was originally designed to probe

> the role marital happiness plays in heart-disease risk, the

doctors

> were amazed to discover that venting emotions during arguments

> actually helps wives -- but not husbands -- live longer. Married

> women who usually engaged in " self-silencing, " defined as bottling

> up their feelings to avoid conflict with their mate, were more

than

> four times more likely to die of all causes during the 10-year

study

> than those who let their feelings fly during fights.

>

> " Ironically, clamming up may have helped preserve the women's

> relationships, but it definitely didn't preserve their lives " says

> Elaine D. Eaker, ScD, lead investigator of the study and president

> of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises, in Chili, Wisconsin. Although

men

> were actually more prone than women to keep quiet during disputes,

> doing so had no impact on their health or life span. The reasons

for

> this gender gap are currently a mystery, says Dr. Eaker. " But what

> we do know is that men and women are physiologically stressed by

> different aspects of marriage, so we need to dig deeper to find

out

> why. "

>

> Forty-nine-year-old ne M. , a wife and mother in

> Cleveland, Ohio, says her husband's insistence on knowing how she

> really feels about things has helped her health. " I'm prone to

> bottling up my feelings, which has often caused a flare-up of my

> arthritis pain, " she says. " I also become anxious and tend toward

> depression, which only makes the problem worse. But my husband,

> Craig, is a great listener and encourages me to empty whatever

> negative emotions are coming up for me. Sometimes he asks, 'Is

there

> anything else you need to say?' and other times, he just lets me

> know that he understands. "

>

> That's soothing to both her spirit and her achy joints, she

> says. " Because I feel the freedom to share what's on my heart and

> mind without worrying that my husband might be upset or angry,

I've

> become so much more relaxed. And then I feel much less pain and

> swelling. I know there is a connection. I ask for what I need from

> my husband, whether it's a whole-body massage or an opportunity to

> vent. Having such a great marriage has made a huge difference in

how

> happy -- and healthy -- I feel. "

>

> Pleasure

>

> Enjoyable experiences pump up your immune system, confirms Carl

> Charnetski, PhD, a professor of psychology at Wilkes University,

in

> Pennsylvania, and author of Feeling Good Is Good for You. And the

> most pleasurable way to protect yourself from colds and the flu is

> by having regular sex, he found in a recent study. Men and women

who

> made love once or twice a week had 30 percent higher levels of

> immunoglobulin A (IgA, a mucous membrane antibody that fights

> respiratory viruses and bacteria) than those who abstained and --

to

> everyone's surprise -- those who had sex more than three times a

> week. " Aristotle was right: All things in moderation -- including

> sex, " says Dr. Charnetski. " While it's unclear why too much is

> harmful, it may be that these people are in obsessive or poor

> relationships that cause them stress and anxiety, which in turn

> suppresses IgA. " If more sex isn't on your agenda, try listening

to

> relaxing music, playing with pets, or even cultivating an

optimistic

> attitude. Research shows these things increase the antibody, too.

>

> " We've known for a long time that stress is hard on the immune

> system, but what's new is finding out that pleasure makes it work

> much better, " he says. " Anything enjoyable, from eating chocolate -

-

> or just smelling it -- to making love has the potential to raise

> IgA. Even anticipating something nice that's going to happen later

> in the week stimulates your body's defenses against illness. It

> looks as though pleasure has the opposite cumulative effect that

> chronic tension does: Over time, injecting frequent small jolts of

> joy in your life starts you on an upward spiral to better health. "

>

> Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal magazine, December

2005.

>