How satisfied are you with your life?
The answer may mean a higheror lowerrisk of heart disease and stroke.
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Lets face it.
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Life can be stressfuland that stress can negatively affect our lives.
People who are more stressed out also tend to be less happy.
Lets see what these researchers found.
How Was This Study Conducted & What Did It Find?
The average length of time participants were followed was 12 years.
Scores from participants responses were compiled based on the Well-Being Index, a validated measure of subjective well-being.
Sinceinflammation has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory markers were also taken into account from participants bloodwork.
Researchers note that this supports a potential cause-and-effect relationship between higher well-being and reduced cardiovascular risk.
This brings a sort of chicken-and-egg conundrum to mind.
Which comes firstbeing happy or engaging in healthy habits?
In other words, do happier people tend to engage in healthier habits?
Or do the healthy habits bring more happiness?
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
But the good news is that the opposite is also true.
Besides these habits, other ones have also been associated with happiness.
For example,practicing gratitudehas been linked to an increase in happiness and better health.
Even staying well-hydrated may help you feel happier and more productive.
And if you need a quick attitude adjustment and happiness boost, step outside.
There is evidence that spending time in nature can increase happinesseven more so if youre moving your body outdoors.
So consider skipping the treadmill and going for a walk outside.
If you find yourself in the less happy crowd, find ways to boost your happiness quotient.
Gallup.Less than half of Americans very satisfied with our own lives.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.035225
World Health Organization.Healthy diet.
American Heart Association.Happy with your life?
Research links contentment with fewer heart attacks and strokes.
