Seeing the world through rose-colored glasses may give your immune system a boost. Scientists at the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville studied the expectations of law students and found that feeling better about the future stimulated their immune system and provoked a stronger response.
Previous studies had indicated that people who are optimistic about the state of their health tend to do better physically. For instance, optimistic people who undergo heart transplant surgery recover better than pessimists. But scientists weren't sure exactly how optimism affects health.
In the study, 124 first-year law students answered questions five times over a period of six months. Each time, they answered questions about how optimistic they felt about law school. Then they had the strength of their immune response measured.
As the students progressed in law school, their immune response followed suit — when they were optimistic, their immune response was stronger, and when they were more pessimistic, they immune response lagged.
The conclusion: feeling better about the future may actually make you feel better in the present.
A new study published in Stroke, a publication of the American Heart Association, found that the more optimistic a person was, the lower their risk of stroke.
According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking can help you manage stress and improve your health. A positive outlook may increase your lifespan, lower levels of depression and stress, and even reduce your odds of getting a common cold.
But if you're the type that sees the glass half-empty rather than half-full, how can you become more optimistic? SixWise.com offers the following tips:
• Be grateful. Focus on what you have and be thankful rather than focusing on what you want.
• Do a good deed. Research shows that doing good deeds can make you happier.
• Be positive. Banish negative thoughts and concentrate on positive outcomes.
• Laugh and smile. Laughing and smiling often have been shown to increase your ability to be optimistic.
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