THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEDICINE

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

Proverbs 17:22

Optimism for Health

A cheerful heart includes realistic optimism.  When you see a glass halfway filled with water, do you think “half full”, or “half empty”?  When you are overlooked for a long-desired promotion, do you submit to thinking, “I’ll never make it,” or do you see the brighter perspective: more time to spend with your family and opportunities to develop other interests?

Optimism leads to a hardiness that prolongs health.  The universities of Helsinki and Turku, along with the University College of London, did a large observational study assessing the protective effects of an optimistic outlook on health.  They found that individuals who scored high on optimism questionnaires reported fewer sick days after a major life event (severe illness or death of a spouse or family member) and recovered more quickly than those who scored low on optimism.  In other words, they found that optimism can assist in coping with major negative life events more successfully.⁽¹⁾

What other benefits does optimism offer?  A Dutch study consisting of 900 individuals, ages 65-85, showed that those who reported high levels of optimism had 55% less risk of dying from all causes and 23% less risk of cardiovascular death than those who reported high levels of pessimism after adjusting for age, sex, chronic disease, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, history of cardiovascular disease or hypertension, body mass index, and total cholesterol level.⁽²⁾ Another Dutch study showed that a high level of dispositional optimism was associated with healthier lifestyle practices such as more physical activity, nonsmoking, consumption of fruit, vegetables and whole-grain bread.  The results in this study were independent from age, education, living arrangement, self-rated health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and body mass index, as well as total energy intake.⁽³⁾ The Dutch have also found that dispositional optimism protects against the development of depressive symptoms during 15 years of follow-up in elderly, community-dwelling men.⁽⁴⁾

Cardiovascular Protection

In another study the researchers at the University of Pittsburgh sought to ascertain the effect that optimism,or pessimism had on the development of arteriosclerosis in the carotid arteries of middle-aged women.  They performed carotid scans on 209 premenopausal women.  Then, when the women were at least five years postmenopausal, the researchers obtained a second scan of each woman.  The results showed that the optimistic women had significantly less progression of atherosclerosis than the pessimistic women.⁽⁵⁾

Immune Boosters

It has been proven quite clearly that whether one is young, middle aged, or older, optimism improves health, whereas pessimism weakens it.  Pessimism also reduces the efficiency of the immune system.  Conversely, optimism improves the ability of natural killer cells to destroy viruses, cancer cells, and other suppressors of the immune system.⁽⁶⁾

In women who have breast cancer, optimism with social support helps to modulate some of the immune-suppressing effects from stress.⁽⁷⁾ Furthermore, researchers at the University of California, discovered that an optimistic perspective buffers the negative effects of stress on the immune system in individuals without cancer.⁽⁸⁾

Improved Lifestyle Habits

Compared to pessimists, optimists seem to engage in healthier habits.  A Finnish study involving 31-year-old individuals showed that men and women who scored in the highest quartile for optimism ate salads, vegetables, berries, and fruits more often than those who were in the lowest quartile.  Pessimistic thinkers also ate less fiber and consumed more alcohol.⁽⁹⁾ In a study of care givers, a high level of pessimism signaled an increased risk for poor health.⁽¹⁰⁾ Other studies have revealed that optimistic individuals reported a higher quality of life, engaged in more active coping, and adopted more health-promoting behaviors than individuals who scored low in optimism or were pessimistic.

A Hearty Laugh

A wholesome sense of humor is not only beneficial, but can also be used as a witnessing tool.  Psalm 126:2 says, “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The Lord has done great things for them.”  Perhaps if we had more “holy chuckles” God’s people would be more convincing to the unbelievers of His goodness.  Laughter increases the number and efficiency of natural killer cells and T-lymphocytes,* and also boosts the level of antibodies.  Laughter, indeed, revitalizes the immune system.^{(11), (12), (13)} But that is not all.  Laughter improves the ability of the blood vessels to dilate⁽¹⁴⁾ and reduces stress hormones like epinephrine and cortisol.  Studies also show that humor, when used sensitively, can build bridges between patients and caregivers.⁽¹⁵⁾ Laughter can also help to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic individuals.⁽¹⁶⁾

Wisdom and balance when dealing with humor are extremely important.  The typical comedies offered by Hollywood devalue the role of fathers, women, and families, thereby edifying no one.  Rather, they deify the devil’s attributes.  Programs such as these are best avoided.  However, genuinely amusing experiences occur in life and a sense of humor can balance life’s stressors.  For example:  When I was learning to make soy mayonnaise and inadvertently added active yeast instead of yeast flakes, I could have become frustrated and upset as I watched the white concoction come pouring out of its jar all over the refrigerator, or I could have laughed as I cleaned up the mess, realizing that I would never make that mistake again.

Spiritual Application: Praise!—Better than Medicine

During my experience working at a hospital, I became friends with an attractive-looking and talented patient who struggled with depression.  One of the symptoms of her depression was the inability to make decisions.  Every day she would ask me what I thought she should wear.  After the fifth day of being thus questioned, a promise in Isaiah came to my mind, and warmly smiling, I responded quietly, “How about trying the garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness?”  My recommendation elicited a cheerful smile from her and hopefully a similar change of outlook.

Meekness is another essential component of a cheerful heart.  Ellen White expressed it this way: “Meekness is a precious grace, willing to endure trials.  Meekness is patient and labors to be happy under all circumstances.  Meekness is always thankful and makes its own song of happiness.  Make melody in the heart to God…Meekness is not silent and sulky.  A morose temper is the opposite of meekness; for this only wounds and gives pain to others, and takes no pleasure to itself.”⁽¹⁷⁾

If you are optimistic, continue to spread your sunbeams with encouraging words.  If you find that you are pessimistic about present circumstances and future prospects, don’t be afraid to venture upon God’s goodness.  His garment of praise is not at all like the invisible covering of the naked emperor (who proudly paraded around in a specially tailored suit, or so he thought!).  Today, we have the opportunity to replace negative thoughts and attitudes with positive ones.  We must either choose the garment of praise or the spirit of heaviness.  Why not choose a rejoicing heart ruled and fueled by divine power?  Rest and healing will be your reward if you will receive that “merry heart that doeth good”—even better than a medicine.

References for The Most Effective Medicine

1. (1)Kivimaki, M., et al, Optimism and pessimism as predictors of change in health after death or onset of severe illness in family, http://www.apa.org/releases/optimismhealth.html.
2. (2)Giltay, E.J., et al, Dispositional optimism and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a prospective cohort of elderly Dutch men and women. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(11):1126-35, 2004.
3. (3)Giltay, E.J., et al, Lifestyle and dietary correlates of dispositional optimism in men: the Zutphen Elderly Study. J Psychosom Res, 63(5):483-90, 2007.
4. (4)Giltay, E.J., et al, Dispositional optimism and the risk of depressive symptoms during 15 years of follow-up: the Zutphen Elderly Study. J Affect Disord, 91(1):45-52, 2006.
5. (5)Matthews, K.A., et al, Optimistic attitudes protect against progression of carotid atherosclerosis in healthy middle-aged women. Psychosom Med, 66(5):640-4, 2004.
6. (6)Segerstrom, S.C., et al, Optimism is associated with mood, coping, and immune change in response to stress. J Pers Soc Psychol, 74(6):1646-55, 1998.
7. (7)Von, A.D., et al, Stress, optimism, and social support: impact on immune responses in breast cancer. Res Nurs Health, 30(1):72-83, 2007.
8. (8)Cohen, F., et al, Differential immune system changes with acute and persistent stress for optimists vs pessimists. Brain Behav Immun, 13(2):155-74, 1999.
9. (9)Kelloniemi, H., et al, Optimism, dietary habits, body mass index and smoking among young Finnish adults. Appetites, 45(2):169-76, 2005.

(10).  Lyons, K.S., et al, Pessimism and optimism as early warning signs for compromised health for caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease. Nurs Res, 53(6):354-62, 2004.

(11).  Bennett, M.P., et al, The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer cell activity. Altern Ther Health Med, 9(2):38-45, 2003.

(12).  Takahashi, K., et al, The elevation of natural killer cell activity induced by laughter in a crossover designed study. Int J Mol Med, 8(6):645-50, 2001.

(13).  Berk, L.S., et al, Modulation of neuroimmune parameters during the eustress of humor-associated mirthful laughter. Altern Ther Health Med, 7(2):62-72, 74-6, 2001.

(14)  Miller, M. and Fry, W.F., The effect of mirthful laughter on the human cardiovascular system. Med Hypotheses, May 26, 2009.

1. (15)Dean, R.A. and Gregory, D.M., Humor and laughter in palliative care: an ethnographic investigation. Palliat Support Care, 2(2):139-48, 2004.
2. (16)Hayashi, T., et al, Laughter up-regulates the genes related to NK cell activity in diabetes. Biomed Res, 28(6):281-5, 2000
3. White, E.G., Testimonies to the Church, Vol 3.