A Happier Life Has A Surprising Impact On Bone Health!
Are you happy and satisfied with your life? If you are, here is some good news for you. A study at the University of Eastern Finland found that satisfied women have higher bone density then their unsatisfied counterparts.
Women aged 60-70 who are satisfied with their lives have higher bone density and suffer less frequently from osteoporosis than those who are not. Osteoporosis is a disease which results in easier fractures, especially hip, which are often associated with more serious consequences.
What was your New Year’s resolution this year? To quit smoking? To exercise more? How you feel about your life matters, especially if you are a woman. Without further ado make the decision right now to stay happy, and if life has unavoidable issues accept them with your head high. This will benefit you more as a resolution and is easy to keep.
As we age osteoporosis becomes a major health concern, more than 50% of all women over 50 suffer from weak bones or osteoporosis.
Research began in 1999 studying more than 2100 women. The objective was to discover whether life satisfaction affect bone health as part of the PhD project of researcher Päivi Rauma, MPharm; focusing on the effects of depression, anti-depressants, and life satisfaction on bone health. The target participants, women aged 60-70, responded to 4 questions to assess life satisfaction rating ease of life, feelings of emptiness or loneliness, and overall happiness.
Only 1100 women were available for follow-up 10 years later in 2009. It was noted that the participants lost bone density by an average of 4%, and the difference between those who answered higher satisfaction was up to 52%.
“Life satisfaction should be taken into account when effects of aging and prevention of osteoporosis as well as health promotion in postmenopausal women are considered,” the authors wrote in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
It was found that those who improved their life and satisfaction, even if they were not satisfied earlier, showed improvement in bone health, likewise those whose satisfaction was lower than the previous level experienced 85% more weakened bone density than those with improved satisfaction. Authors believe this could also be related to the women’s lifestyle.
The key risk factors of osteoporosis include menopause, smoking, calcium deficiency, medical conditions, lack of activity, and some medications. It’s important to take care of your health and to stay happy and satisfied in life. This test does not conclude that an unsatisfied life leads to thinner bones, there is no cause-effect-relationship. It was also found that depression leads to poor bone health and increases risk of bone-related issues.
It is suggested by the researchers to stay happy and improve your lifestyle in every way as it affects your mood and your health by possibly protecting you from osteoporosis. Follow the phrase “Don’t worry, be happy.”
