February 06, 2017, 18:05
Photo: sylvar
American scientists have proven that happy optimists are much less likely to suffer from respiratory diseases and flu than those who are always dissatisfied with life or are nervous over trifles.
The team of Professor Sheldon Cohen conducted an experiment designed to establish how the attitude towards life affects the body’s resistance. The scientists followed a group of volunteers for several weeks, measuring their levels of optimism and frequency of mood swings. When the average “level of happiness” of each of the subjects was clarified, they tried to infect them with the influenza virus or the rhinovirus. It turned out that natural optimism is indeed able to act as an additional immune defense of the body.
In another study, subjects were asked to watch several positive and funny videos. Examining the participants in the experiment, scientists were surprised to find out that even the very anticipation of future fun has a positive effect on human health. So, a few days (!) Before the show, people’s indicators of depression and fatigue decreased. And by the end of the show, depression and fatigue scores were down 98% and 87%, respectively.
Thus, scientists have found that people who are in a good mood, get sick much less often than inveterate pessimists, and have a strong immune system.
Optimists are less likely to turn to doctors and pills for help, and with surgical interventions, happy and satisfied patients recover faster, and they experience complications much less often.
The scientists’ conclusions are overshadowed by the fact that it is impossible to become an optimist, as if by magic. But you can learn to be an optimist — everyone can acquire a positive outlook on life.
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