Positive Thinking for a Longer Life

You probably have heard the familiar phrase, laughter is the best medicine, or is the glass half empty or half full? What you may not have realized is the importance of those phrases, since recent studies have linked a positive attitude as a way to help extend the longevity of a person’s life.

How Can Positive Thinking Extend a Person’s Life?

• Stress Reliever

Maintaining a positive attitude when you are trying to cope with problems that arise in your life can lower your stress levels, thereby benefiting your overall health. Lowering stress is one way you can help reduce your risk factors for health related conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is still the number one cause of death among men and women today, and any ways to reduce these alarming statistics can lead to a longer life.

• Decrease Depression

Generally, a person who has a positive outlook on life may have less bouts of depression. Being able to see the positive aspect of even the worst problem can help you avoid getting depressed over negative situations. It’s important to remember, however, some forms of depression can be severe and can require the attention of a medical doctor, who may prescribe therapy, or medication, depending on the individual.

• Help Blood Pressure

Staying positive by remaining calm and relaxed over stressful situations can help you to keep your blood pressure under control. Negative emotions, on the other hand may raise your blood pressure level. Keeping normal blood pressure readings is another way to reduce your risk factor for developing heart disease and other serious health conditions.

• May Help Protect Your Heart

According to a study by cardiologists, laughter may help prevent heart disease, reinforcing the saying, laughter is the best medicine. The study indicates that people without heart disease, generally laugh around 40 percent more compared to those individuals in the same age group that have heart disease. Although the exact reason why laughter may be beneficial in preventing heart disease is not known, there is a correlation between stress and the negative effect it has on the lining of the blood vessels, which could cause inflammation and possible heart disease if the fat and cholesterol builds up in the arteries.
There are ways to incorporate more laughter into your daily life which could include watching humorous shows, or reading funny literature.

• Immune Booster

Positive thinking is thought to strengthen the immune system, which can help you fight off colds, flu, and other ailments better. A research study involving people who were subjected to negative emotions following a flu shot showed a weakened response with their antibody levels. A stronger immune system means a healthier you, and ultimately a longer life.

• Better Coping with Serious Diseases

People with positive and optimistic attitudes seem to apply better coping skills with serious diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and other serious illnesses. Positive thinking also helps patients generally recuperate faster from surgery, and other medical procedures.

A positive thinking may prolong your life longer, so it’s best to maintain an optimistic than pessimistic attitude with life.