The feeling of happiness - whether we equate it with
optimism, joy, well-being, personal achievement or all of the above - goes
hand-in-hand with healthier habits. People who are in good spirits tend to eat better,
exercise more frequently and get better sleep than those who are not. In turn,
these healthy habits engage the hormones and neurotransmitters that influence
our happiness. When our mood is down, we are more likely to skip workouts, do
some heavy-duty emotional overeating and have difficulty sleeping.
Beyond these rather common-sense associations, however, is
an intriguing research that suggests there's something more about happiness
that makes us healthy.
Let’s understand the 10 health benefits of being happy…
1.
SMILE
Science suggest that when we smile whether we are happy or
not, our mood is elevated. When we smile, even if it is a fake one, muscles of
our face are stretched and this muscular movement triggers the brain to release
the “Happy Hormones” which makes us feel good and boosts up our mood. Our smile
not only makes others happy but does a huge favor to release our own stress.
2.
LAUGHTER
Laughter is the best medicine. (Age old adage known to many)
We expel air of the lungs in bouts of laughing that expels more air and
lengthens the period of exhalation that is followed by deep inspiration of
fresh air having more oxygen. Our blood gets purified more rapidly and we feel
more refreshed and rejuvenated. We feel more relaxed too when pure blood circulates
in the brain. Some people practice laughter just to reap its health benefits.
No wonder we find laughter clubs in almost all parks and open spaces.
3.
HAPPY
HORMONES
As per Psychoneuroimmunology, a new branch of science that
studies the mind-body connection, the thoughts and emotions that we choose get
instantly transformed into chemicals. These chemicals are, effectively, either
self-administered injections of 'slow poisons' or of 'healing medicines' that
eventually freeze into and become our physical states, i.e. Disease or Health. So
let’s understand the role of the chemicals associated with Happiness.
Happy hormones generally refer to Endorphins, Serotonin,
Dopamine, Oxytocin, Phenylethamine and Ghrelin. Technically, some of these are
neurotransmitters and not hormones, but we shan’t bother ourselves with those
scientific details here. Let’s just understand how they help us to be healthy…
ENDORPHINS -
Endorphins block pain they are the body’s natural painkillers. When rigorous
exercise depletes our muscles of glycogen (oxygen stores), endorphins allow us
to push on. This is why we often feel blisters for example only after and not
during the activity.
SEROTONIN -
Serotonin boosts our mood and makes us more agreeable and sociable prevents
irritability and depression.
DOPAMINE -
Dopamine helps us to feel mentally alert. The lack of it might cause lack of
attention, lack of concentration and bad moods. It motivates us to take action
to achieve the exercise goals so we can experience the pleasure of the reward.
ESTROGEN -
Estrogen helps form serotonin and protects us from irritability and anxiety,
keeping our mood steady.
PROGESTERONE –
Progesterone helps us to sleep well and prevents anxiety, irritability and mood
swings.
4.
IMMUNE
SYSTEM
Do you know a grumpy person who always seems to be getting
sick? That may be no coincidence; there is a link between happiness and a
stronger immune system. Happy people have a high antibody response to any vaccine
which is a sign of a robust immune system. There is reduction in the size of
telomeres - the protective caps of our immune cells, which causes premature
aging of the immune system in stressed out people. On the contrary happiness
seems to be literally working on a cellular level to strengthen our immune
system.
5.
HEART
Happiness predicts lower heart rate and blood pressure.
There is a link between happiness and another measure of heart health: heart
rate variability, which refers to the time interval between heartbeats and is
associated with risk for various diseases. Happy people are less likely to
develop coronary heart diseases.
6.
BLOOD
Happy people have lower levels of a blood protein called
fibrinogen following a stressful task. This molecule makes blood “sticky” and
is vital in the clotting process, but high concentrations can signal future
coronary heart disease problems.
7.
PAIN
AND ACHES
Unhappiness can be painful—literally. Painful and negative
symptoms like muscle strain, dizziness, and heartburn and even arthritis and
chronic pain seem to be lesser painful when we are happy mainly as we have more
of endorphins in our blood stream effectively acting as the natural pain
killers.
8.
STRESS
Stress is not only upsetting on a psychological level but
also triggers biological changes in our hormones and blood pressure. Happiness
seems to temper these effects, or at least help us recover more quickly.
Happiness also seems to carry benefits even when stress is inevitable. The
happier we are, the lower our cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone of
which high levels are linked to conditions such as type II diabetes and
hypertension. And lower heart rates are associated with good cardiovascular
health.
9.
GENES
Yes, Happiness can alter our genes! People with a deep sense of happiness and
well-being have lower levels of inflammatory gene expression and stronger
antiviral and antibody responses. This falls into the realm of epigenetics -
changing the way our genes function by turning them off and on. Epigenetics
doesn’t change the genetic code; it changes the readout of a single gene to
create over 30,000 different proteins. When a human being encounters happiness
and love, the growth genes are activated. When a human being encounters fear,
the protection genes are activated. Thus perfectly normal genes can result in
cancer or death. Vice-versa, in the right happy environment, mutant genes won’t
be expressed.
10.
LIFESPAN
In the end, the ultimate health indicator might be longevity—and
here, especially, happiness comes into play. As we become elderly, the other
condition that often afflicts us is frailty, which is characterized by impaired
strength, endurance, and balance and puts us at risk of disability and death.
However happier people are less likely to be frail. In essence, true happiness
- the kind rooted in virtue - can help prevent disease. It keeps inflammation -
which is linked to numerous ills in the body, including heart disease - at bay
while still fighting off infection and disease.
That’s perhaps one reason Mother Theresa lived to 87,
despite being around the sick and dying for so many years.
I would quote Voltaire here - “I have chosen to be happy because it is
good for my health.” Have you?
