Finally, there’s a gene that is biased
in favour of women. A gene that makes women happy but mysteriously has no
effect on men could be the reason why most women handle the ups and downs of
life better than men. The gene, called MAOA-it comes in a hyperactive and a
less active variation – affects the levels of feel – good brain chemicals
called endorphin's that regulate mood, reported the journal Progress in Neuro- Psycho pharmacologyand Biological Psychiatry on Saturday. Women with two copies
of the gene- 17% of the ones studied- were predictably the happiest.
Happiness is
hardwired in our DNA, which explains why some of us get more emotional about
rude colleagues, pesky neighbours or nasty parking –lot attendants than others.
Of course, circumstances also affect stress that triggers outbursts, such as
road rage. Studies from the Harvard school of Public Health, among others, show
that chronic stress, especially that experienced in early childhood from
chronic neglect or exposure to domestic violence, can permanently deactivates
the body’s stress response system, affecting the brain and other organs. The
numbering of the stress response has the same effect as chronic stress, making
you lose your sleep and your mind over time.
For stress,
or the complete paralysis of a stress response, triggers inflammation and
expose you to a host of lifestyle disorders, such as hypertension (high blood
pressure), heart disease, diabetes and depression to name just a very few.
A sunny
outlook means fewer colds and lower chances of a heart attack. It also means
quicker recovery from whatever illness or surgery you are recuperating from.
Studies in the past have shown that levels of the stress hormone cortisol drop
by one-third in people who are happy as
compared to those who least happy. People with an upbeat demeanor also show a
lowering of a protein called plasma fibrinogen, high levels of which indicates
higher chances of heart disease. Laughter also makes the inner lining of blood
vessels (endothelium) to dilate, which increases blood flow and lowers pressure
on the heart. I won’t even get into how happiness helps you keep brooding
thoughts at bay, lowering your chances of risk behaviours such as smoking,
drinking and other forms of substances abuse.
Since New
York’s Big Apple Circus, which pioneered the first professional hospital
clowning programme, hospitals in the US, Canada, Israel and some countries in
Europe have formed clowning guilds to infuse laughter into medicine. Working
like paramedics, these clowns- in some cases, with big red noses and bigger
smiles in place – go around wards to bring laughter to speed up recovery.
What’s new
is that clowns have now moved out of paediatric units and cancer wards to make
their presence felt among adults seeking treatment. One Israeli study,
published in the international journal Fertility and Sterility last year,
reported that a woman’s chances of getting pregnant after invitro fertilization
went up from 20.2% to 36.4 % if a clown was brought in to entertain and relax
her immediately after the obstetrician implanted a fertilized egg in her womb.
Since there
is little you can do about your DNA or the way your parents brought up you, you
can laugh away or at least postpone – most of your health problems. Even fake
laughter works. Dr Charles Schaefer, a professor of psychology at Fairleigh
Dickinson University in New Jersey, found that laughing, both real and
enforced, brings benefits because the body’s natural physiological response to
joy makes the brain to release endorphins, the happy hormones, which
immediately lower stress.
So, even if
you don’t find that joke funny, make an effort to laugh any way. It may just
add a few years to your life.
Thank You,
HINDUSTAN
TIMES 26-AUGUST-2012
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