The Happiness-Health Connection

"If you have your health, you have everything." If that is something you believe, then healthy people have reason to be happy. But there is also a happiness-health connection and people who are happy and satisfied with their lives might actually be healthier. Quick Benefits The benefit of better health comes quickly, with greater happiness boosting health in as little as three years after taking steps towards a happier life. A recent study showed that everything else being equal, if you are happy and satisfied with your life now, you are more likely to be healthy in the future. Health Risks The study also showed the results were not impacted by some known health risks, such as smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption and age. There is strong evidence that happiness does have an effect on our indicators of health. Happiness and life satisfaction were both associated with: * excellent, good or very good healthrn * the absence of long-term health problemsrn * higher levels of physical health after three years Future Health In addition, the results suggested that improving happiness or life satisfaction might also result in better future health. There are indications that as you become happier and more satisfied with your life, you tend to become healthierrnas well. Live Longer! There are many reports of happy people living a long life, but it was unclear whether happiness causes longevity, or if good health add both to happiness as well as longevity. Happiness may not lengthen the life of those who are seriously ill, but it does seem to prolong the life of healthy people. Happiness appears act as a buffer against getting sick. Less Stress That may be due to the fact that people who are unhappy may have more stress, which reduces immune response. Another possibility is that happy people are more likely to adopt a healthy life style. Bottom Line These studies show that promoting positive thinking and happiness should be an important component in everyone's health regimen. It is undoubtedly the most important reason to keeping a positive outlook on life.