A new study indicates that subjective well-being — factors such as life satisfaction and enjoyment of life — can influence physical health. The researchers also examined why this is the case and the circumstances where it most commonly occurs. Subjective well-being can influence physical health effects through health behaviors, as well as through the immune and cardiovascular systems. While scientists are still exploring and debating when happiness has the most impact on health, there's no doubt that it can.
“We must now very much conclude that happy people are healthier and live longer, and that chronic unhappiness can be a real health risk. People's feelings and well-being come together with other well-known health factors, such as not smoking and exercising," said the researcher. Scores of studies show that our levels of happiness versus stress and depression can influence our cardiovascular disease, our immune system's strength to fight disease and our ability to heal injury.”
