Don’t worry, be happy and healthy

Tweet

It’s important to be happy. Positive emotions not only make you feel alive and energetic, they help fight several diseases and are responsible for one’s physical wellbeing too. In a recent study conducted by scientists in the US, a group of volunteers were deliberately exposed to the cold or flu virus. It was discovered that those with a positive frame of mind were less prone to catch the virus and even if they did, their symptoms were less pronounced than the negative thinkers. According to local experts, stress leading to depression can be the cause of a number of diseases, including physical ailments. “Often people are not aware of the fact that their state of mind can affect their physical health. The immunity of our body system is directly related to our mindset and mental stability,” says Dr Shekhar Reddy, psychiatrist, Yashodha hospital adding, “If you are suffering from bouts of negative emotion, the body’s ability to resist diseases reduces. As a result you will become more prone to ailments like cold, flu or even diabetes.” Stress leading to depression also affects the composition of chemicals in the brain, which in turn are responsible for the way we behave. So once the balance of the chemicals gets disturbed, it is reflected in the mental and physical health of a person. “If a person is clinically depressed, it leads to a chemical change in their brain. The secretion of some chemicals become less than normal. This affects the mood and the immune system of a person,” says Dr S. Dinesh, psychiatrist, Sigma hospital. Experts believe that some diseases like diabetes, hypertension and in extreme cases even cancer are psychosomatic and are an offshoot of a stressed body. Dr Abbineni Venkatarao, General physician, Apollo Hospital says, “This happens because the hormones are controlled by the psyche, that is, emotions tend to affect the hormones. For example, extreme anger can cause hypertension, diabetes and heart problems. Similarly different negative emotions affect your body in different ways.” So what is the solution? “It is important for a person to analyse the reason behind the negative emotions and find out whether it’s caused by professional or personal problems. Such people should opt for yoga and meditation, but if the case is too serious, an immediate clinical check-up is necessary,” adds Dr Dinesh. According to yoga instructor Sharmila Hirendranath, “Yoga encourages the flow of blood to the brain so that it gets enough oxygen, thus enabling you to overcome negative emotions.” So it’s vital to rid the mind of negative emotions in order to lead a healthy life.