"OPTIMISM" - A SECRET WONDER DRUG ?

If you swallow pills or supplements daily to ‘survive’ as long as possible, you should know that longevity is not only an issue of your physical status. But rather a systemic inter-relation between your body  and your optimistic mind. Read on to get the most out of this biologic phenomenon.   

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND

 
Jody Miller from Denver, CO, asks:
 
When my grandfather died recently at the age of 99, his friends seemed not  surprised about his longevity. Because – so their findings – my granddad was a very optimistic man, always good for a joke.
Doc – is there something true about, since ‘optimism’ is not a drug we all take as a daily routine in order to survive as long as possible?
 
Dr. Fritz:
 
As you know, our body is a complex and systematically inter-related Ecosystem, strictly based on natural laws.
 
Accordingly, our health and disease are equally inter-related phenomena of our biological system. This is especially true for the connection between body and mind. I.e., to stay or become healthy is not only a physical issue but rather a ‘blend’ of both – body and mind.
 
That’s why the formula for a healthy and long life is not only dependent on a healthy body but also on a happy mind (feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction with life).
 
Scientifically validated by a study at the University College London, UK, including more than 9,000 participants, aged 63 years in average. Resulting in 24% of lower death risk for participants with high enjoyment of life.
 
As pointed out already in one of my previous Blogs, these findings are in line with those of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, with 70,000 participants, according to which optimism improves health considerably.  
 
Researchers’ nutshell: the longer life enjoyment, the lower the risk of disease and premature death. With special reference to cancer (- 16%), heart disease (- 38%), stroke (- 39%), respiratory disease (- 38%), and infection (-52%).

LONELINESS

Social isolation is an additional factor for challenging optimism.
 
Those who, e.g., have lost contact with family members and friends are especially vulnerable, according to research at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, including 3.4 million participants of all ages.
 
With even long-term risk of health issues involved such as, inter alia, poor sleep, stress, inflammation throughout the body, even the risk of heart attack and stroke.
 
More than that, UCLA research found out that loneliness increases the risk of dying premature in the next 7 years by 30%.    
 
Scientifically validated also by research at the University of Chicago.

CONCLUSION

Leaves us with the question how to be or become optimistic when the odds seem to suggest the contrary in life?
 
My personal advice: step forward and take a challenge which kind so ever. And should you fail – take the next challenge. Again and again. Just as Sir Winston Churchill put it already successfully 70 years ago: “Don’t ever, ever, ever, give up.”  Everybody has got a second chance – also in terms of optimism. Take it!