14 Nov Optimism and happiness as medicine
by Dr. Ranit Mishori
I write a lot of prescriptions_ã”for pills, creams, and physical therapy. One thing I can_ã_t dictate a dose of_ã”though I wish I could_ã”is a positive attitude. I_ã_ve always suspected that patients who _ã–look on the bright side_ã tend to handle medical problems better than others. They seem quicker to seek help when they need it and more motivated to follow doctors_ã_ orders. Perhaps most important, they appear to believe they_ã_re going to get healthier.
A recent issue of the journal Circulation provides hard evidence that optimism and health are connected. Researchers studied nearly 100,000 women over eight years, tracking how many heart attacks they suffered and how long they lived. The conclusion? Optimism is good for you.
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