the happy heart prescription

Happiness is good for the heart metaphorically, but science shows it’s true physically as well.

Researchers followed 1,700 people for 10 years, and considered their emotional states over that time. Participants rated their anxiety, joy and other emotions on a five-point scale. By the end of the study, researchers determined that each step up on mood the scale saw a corresponding 22-percent decrease in heart-disease risk.

How does it work? Likely because reducing stress, improving sleep and moving on from tough experiences inflicts a lower toll on the physical body.

The take-home message is that happiness is an important part of daily self care, just like moderate exercise and eating well. Joy is medicine.

Here’s to happy, healthy hearts!

 

 

Photo by zoo_monkey on Unsplash.