A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in January 2008 shows that women benefit the most from living life with a laugh. Research involving 3,000 London based civil servants found that happy women may be at lower risk from heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and obesity.

Happy men, however, benefited from just blood pressure and weight gain protection. Scientists from University College London took six samples of saliva from the men and women over a day and tested them for levels of cortisol, a hormone produced during times of stress and linked to high blood pressure, fat around the middle and lowered immunity. They found that men and women who reported being happiest had lower than average cortisol levels and so were less at risk of the dangers or exposure to high levels of this hormone.

 

On another day the team measured the volunteer’s levels of C reactive protein and interleukin 6, two proteins linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer. Among women but not men happiness correlated to lower levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin 6. Although previous research has suggested a link between low levels of cortisol and health and happiness this is the first to highlight the important of c-reactive protein and interleukin. The research also adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that happiness is associated with biological responses that are health protective. 

 

(If you would like to have your levels of cortisol measured see the Adrenal Stress Test on the Resources Page). 

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