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Amy's Blog

Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

Posted Thu. 18, Feb, 2010

Happiness helps when it comes to the heart. It does make sense, doesn't it?

You may have heard this today if you watched any of the morning news programs. As I channel surfed, I heard it, then checked the CBS News website and found out details about this latest research.

It comes out of Columbia University where researchers rated the happiness levels of more than 17-hundred adults in Canada with no heart problems back in 1995. After ten years, they examined 145 participants who developed a heart problem and found that happier people were least likely to have a heart issue. The study was published online in today's (2-18) European Heart Journal.

Columbia University Medical Center's Dr. Karina Davidson said happy people were more likely to have a healthier lifestyle. She also said that depression has long been noted as a risk factor for heart problems. But Dr. Davidson also said it's too early to draft specific guidelines that recommend patients boost happiness levels just to protect their hearts. She does recommend, however, that folks try to be happy for other reasons, like mental health.

Once again, we see how important our state of mind, and our ability to manage stress can be as it relates to being heart healthy. Everyone has their own way of handling stress in their daily lives. Hopefully it's not lighting up a cigarette, or grabbing an unhealthy bag of chips! I know it helps me to exercise, whether it's a dance class at the Y, or walking our dog Jake! I know fresh air and good sleep also improve my sense of well being. To you it may be sitting down with a good book, cooking, or watching a great movie. But incorporating good relaxation and stress reduction activities into our daily lives sure can't hurt us. It's not wrong to make time for yourself.

Tomorrow I'm headed to Murfreesboro for Rutherford County's "Go Red for Women" luncheon. I look foward to seeing Donna, featured on this web site, and other heart survivors who are wonderful to continue to share their stories to help empower women. I encourage those of you reading this blog to get your friends to check it out and make comments. I'd love to hear your stories and how you've been touched by heart disease. Thanks for taking the time to "Go Red!"