Is happiness the key to better health in later life

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Happiness is key to good health in later life

Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising the body.

London (PRWEB UK) 20 February 2014

We are constantly being told that leading a healthy, balanced diet leads to a better quality of life when we grow older, but research now proves that happiness could be the best medicine.

Scientists claim that older people who are happier and enjoy life more, show slower declines in physical function as they age, and are less likely to develop impairments in activities on a daily basis such as getting out of bed or needing to walk somewhere quickly.

ChemistDirect Superintendent Pharmacist Omar El-Gohary said: “It is definitely harder to remain active and fit at an older age, but with a strong determination to stay active and boost the body’s natural endorphins, it is possible to stay happy and healthy for longer.”

Researchers from University College of London assessed 3,199 men and women aged 60 years or over living in England and examined the link between positive well-being and physical well-being over the space of eight years.

They were divided into age categories and the results showed that participants in the 60-69 year bracket had higher levels of well-being, as did those with more varied social lives, ones who were educated and those who were married or working. (http://bit.ly/1e97y7E)

People with low well-being were more than three times as likely as their positive counterparts to develop problems later on in their daily physical activities.

El-Gohary added: “Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising the body. When a person is feeling depressed, it can take a physical toll on the body. Natural supplements such as Vitamin B6 with Folic Acid and Omega 3 fish oil can help relieve anxiety and increase the body’s natural endorphins, making us feel happier.”

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education found that in all the guidance about wellbeing, education is key. Education has also been proved by the Alzheimer’s Society, to delay the onset of the disease and decrease the dependence on medication in later life. (http://bit.ly/MjCvzv)

El-Gohary encourages people to seek the advice of their GP if they are feeling permanently depressed or physically inhibited.

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