Happiness: the key to health

“Happiness is the highest form of health”

— Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama famously said that happiness is the highest form of health. Though in the modern epidemic of anxiety, depression, disconnection, and loneliness, our own happiness may lapse in priority to the pressures of an endless to-do list.

Thankfully, modern science is beginning to catch up to the age-old concept that happiness is essential for our physical well-being. We now know that the human body has a physiological response mechanism to experiencing joy that involves certain brain neurotransmitters.

Endorphins

Endorphins are neurotransmitters released in the body from laughter, exercise, meditation, or eating chocolate, and inhibit positive emotions whilst simultaneously reducing feelings of pain. Endorphins are responsible for increasing the release of dopamine in the body.

Dopamine

Dopamine activates the reward system in the brain to register feelings of pleasure and joy. Dopamine is important not only for influencing feelings of reward and motivation but also in regulating body movement and optimising physical function.

Serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and levels of satisfaction, happiness, and optimism. Serotonin is important for appetite, digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual function. Serotonin levels are increased when experiencing joy, spending time outdoors in nature, or exercising.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is the neurotransmitter that facilitates feelings of trust, love and connection with others. Oxytocin production can be stimulated through social behaviours and loving relationships and decreases levels of stress and anxiety.

Get happy

These ‘happy hormones’ work together to create overall physical well-being, which has been proven to lower cholesterol, heart rate, blood pressure, levels of inflammation, and the risk of obesity.

Science suggests that those who experience joy every day not only have lower levels of cortisol and stress, they are less likely to develop chronic disease. Studies have found that older people with greater well-being are less frail, less likely to develop mobility issues, and experience a slower decline in cognition.

Happiness not only decreases the risk of long-term negative health effects, but also improves cardiovascular health, nervous system function, immune response, and overall lifespan.

To make the most of these physiological benefits of happiness, it may be time to put something that brings you joy straight to the top of that to-do list.

References

1. Allerhand, M., Gale, C. R., & Deary, I. J. (2014). The dynamic relationship between cognitive function and positive well-being in older people: a prospective study using the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. Psychology and aging, 29(2), 306–318. 

2. Dfarhud, D., Malmir, M., & Khanahmadi, M. (2014). Happiness & Health: The Biological Factors- Systematic Review Article. Iranian journal of public health, 43(11), 1468–1477.

3. Diener, E., & Chan, M. (2011). Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity. Applied Psychology: Health And Well-Being, 3(1), 1-43. 

4. Kringelbach, M. L., & Berridge, K. C. (2010). The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure. Social research, 77(2), 659–678.

5. Young S. N. (2007). How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN, 32(6), 394–399.