Prevent a Cold by Staying Happy?

Catching a cold? The sniffles and sneezes always happen at the most inconvenient times. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to prevent a cold - or at least reduce its symptoms? There could be. It may be as simple as washing your hands - and staying upbeat and happy. According to a new study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, your mental outlook is a factor in how bad your cold symptoms are - and how often you catch one.

Prevent a Cold by Staying Upbeat?

Researchers interviewed 334 healthy people three times a week for 14 days to assess their overall mood - how upbeat and optimistic they were and whether they had anxiety or depressive-type symptoms. At each interview, they gave each participant a dose of the cold virus - squirted directly into their nostrils. Then, they followed them closely for signs that they were catching a cold.

What did they find? Among these healthy people, those who were experiencing the most positive emotions were least likely to catch a cold - and even when they did, their symptoms were milder. This was true even after researchers controlled for other factors that could affect the risk of catching a cold.

Of course, this study doesn't necessarily show cause and effect, but the results are intriguing. How might staying upbeat and positive ward off colds? One theory is that positive emotions help the immune system wipe out cold viruses before they lead to a runny nose and cough. An upbeat attitude may also alter the inflammatory response that happens when the cold virus invade. There may be truth to the phrase, "mind over matter".

The Bottom Line?

To avoid catching a cold, keep washing your hands, eat a healthy diet and don't skimp on sleep. These are proven ways to boost your immunity against infection. But don't underestimate the importance of having a positive outlook. Emotions can alter the way your immune system functions - and they may be a factor in how many colds you catch and how severe they are.

If you're felling "stressed out", exercise by walking briskly or jogging thirty minutes a day. Moderate-intensity exercise is a proven immunity booster that also relieves stress. Look for other stress-relieving outlets such as massage, yoga or meditation to give your immune system a boost and reduce the risk of catching a cold. It just might give you an advantage come cold season.

References:

Psychosomatic Medicine 65:652-657 (2003).

Medical News Today. "Happy People May Have More Immunities to Common Cold"