Want to ward off colds this winter? Try keeping a positive
attitude. A recent study published in Psychosomatic Medicine
found that happy people are less likely to catch colds or
complain of cold symptoms than those who experience negative
emotions, such as depression, nervousness and anger.
Researchers
interviewed 334 hundred healthy people over a two-week period
to gather information on their positive and negative emotional
states, including vigor; well-being; calm; depression; anxiety;
and hostility. Following each interview, participants were
given nasal drops containing one of two rhinoviruses (cold-causing
germs) and monitored in quarantine for the next five days.
Results showed that participants with a positive attitude
were less likely to develop cold symptoms, leading researchers
to believe that optimistic people are more likely to have
healthy lifestyles, which stave off illness. Participants
with negative attitudes did not necessarily develop colds;
however, they were more likely to report feeling cold symptoms,
leading to the conclusion that negativity can influence perceptions
toward the body.
So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, think positive!
It could mean the difference between spending your winter
between the sheets or on the slopes. For more information
on natural ways to maintain health, talk to your doctor of
chiropractic.
Reference:
Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Turner RB, et al. Emotional
style and susceptibility to the common cold. Psychosomatic
Medicine July 2003: Volume 65, pp.652-57.
To learn more about the benefits of a healthy, positive lifestyle,
visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout.
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