Happy is healthier

By Jaymi Freiden
Knight Ridder News Service

If you're happy and you know it, you probably realize that being happy is more than just slapping on a smile and a "have a nice day" button.

Stephen Downes • The Honolulu Advertiser

So c'mon, get happy.

Happiness isn't just a touchy-feely concept — it's being studied by health experts worldwide for its possible links to better physical health.

A study out of the University of California-Irvine and the Loma Linda University School of Medicine showed that people who viewed a one-hour humorous video saw a decrease in production of stress hormones that could last 12 to 24 hours. Even anticipating watching a funny video helped lower stress levels.

The best thing about happiness is that you have the power to control it, even though it may take some practice to learn how to look on the bright side.

Imagine you're racing to an appointment when you get stuck behind a bus. A slow one that will stop a few times before crawling ahead at 3 mph.

You could:

1. Start cursing and slamming your head into the steering wheel, or
2. Take advantage of the time to unwind and collect your thoughts.

The decision is up to you, but the point is, you have a choice.

Unfortunately, people often don't realize that. Instead they allow themselves to be victims of their circumstances.

"You have to ask yourself, 'Am I going to let this ruin my day, or will I allow myself to relax?' " she said. "Trials can become opportunities."

Trials are becoming even more common now that we're living in the post-9/11 world and at war with Iraq.

These just add to the anxiety, making it even more crucial to manage your stress levels, said Mary Beth Brock, an occupational therapist at the institute of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina.

It all goes back to control.

"Work on the things you can change and learn to accept what you can't change," she said.

So we're back at the bus stop and we've probably given you a pretty strong hint that you should select option B. While we have a few minutes, slip in a humorous tape or CD. The old saying "laughter is the best medicine" isn't just a cliché.

"It's hard to hold on to tension when you have a good laugh," Brock said. "Humor is a good way to stay healthy."

Just the physical act of laughter:

• Activates the immune system, making us less likely to become sick.
• Decreases stress hormones. A good laugh also reduces the levels of stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol.
• Releases endorphins, which may help reduce the intensity of pain in those suffering from arthritis and muscular spasms.
• Is great aerobic exercise.

All that makes watching that "Dumb and Dumber" movie sound downright therapeutic.

According to Dr. William Fry from Stanford University, one minute of laughter equals 10 minutes on the rowing machine.

RX Laughter, a project at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center, Mattel Children's Hospital and the Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, uses humor to help young people being treated for serious conditions such as cancer and cerebral palsy.

Funny videos of carefully selected television shows are shown to children and teens undergoing medical procedures. The videos are specially prescribed for each patient, as research has shown that a positive attitude can provide a better chance of recovery.

A statement from The American Medical Association showed children and teens are better able to handle painful procedures as they watch and laugh at the funny programs.

Don Vargas, 38, a manufacturing supervisor at Cooper Tools in Sumter, S.C., noticed a dramatic change in his physical well-being once he made a commitment to being a more positive person.

Before his epiphany, he rarely exercised and didn't take very good care of himself. Now, he works out regularly and has started taking multivitamins.

"I feel physically better," Vargas said. "I want to look better."

About six years ago, Vargas started reading motivational books such as "How to Win Friends and Influence People," and his life slowly began to change for the better.

Vargas adopted a mantra, which he recites with a smile every morning in front of the bathroom mirror: "I feel great, I feel terrific, this is going to be the best day ever." He started wearing a bright orange smiley-face button that says "Life Is Terrific." Everything else started falling into place.

How do people react to this cheery attitude?

"Most of the time they respond well," Vargas said. "The ones that react negatively, I have the most fun with. I ask, 'How would you like me to be? Miserable all the time, telling you of all my woes?' "

Vargas let go of the relationships that held him back, replacing them with more positive interactions. His affiliation with the church grew stronger. And he started making more money. Now, when something bad happens, he has learned not to dwell.

"Everything is temporary," Vargas tells himself. "This, too, shall pass."

But when you're feeling blue, it can be difficult to think that positively. You may find it hard to sleep or eat, and the mere thought of going to the gym makes you want to cry. So you start to be run down, which not only makes you grouchy, it makes you more susceptible to illness.

For example, several studies show an established relationship between depression and a heightened stroke risk. But research out of the University of Texas Medical Branch that seniors scoring highly in emotional well-being saw significant reductions in their stroke risk.

It's natural to feel down every now and then, but if the feelings drag out for more than a few weeks, Quillen and Ross recommend seeing a mental health professional.