Study by Universities of Exeter and Oxford found that taking part in self-compassion exercises calms the heart rate, switching off the body's threat response. Previous studies have shown that this threat response damages the immune system. Researchers believe the ability to switch off this response may lower the risk of disease. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190206200344.htm
Compassion is the emotional response when perceiving suffering and involves an authentic desire to help alleviate that suffering. The Greater Good Science Center co-founder Dacher Keltner says compassion is “an evolved part of human nature, rooted in our brain and biology.” https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/compassionate_mind_healthy_body
Kindness is something that needs to benefit both parties. Kindness doesn’t have to cost money or take a lot of time. You can share your skills, such as offering to help with technology, sharing recipes, or sewing masks or scrubs for key workers. You could even gift a subscription to an entertainment service, magazine or a simple care package. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/kindness/kindness-matters-guide
Of the 14,166 number of records identified, 5263 remained after removal of duplicates, and 50 articles were included in the final review. Forty-six studies explored perspectives on the nature of compassion or compassionate behaviours. Four studies reported on the category of educational or clinical interventions, a notable decrease compared to the 10 studies identified in the original review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9116004/
Loving kindness meditation is a practice that cultivates and nurtures feelings of unconditional kindness towards oneself and others using silent mantras or phrases. The technique has its origins in the Buddhist tradition, where it’s known as Metta Meditation, meaning benevolence, loving-kindness, friendliness, and goodwill. https://www.stresscoach.app/blog/7-powerful-reasons-to-try-loving-kindness-meditation/
Having a positive outlook can benefit your physical health. NIH-funded scientists are working to better understand the links between your attitude and your body. Developing a sense of meaning and focusing on what’s important to you also contributes to emotional wellness. People who are emotionally well are able to bounce back from difficulties faster. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2015/08/positive-emotions-your-health
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. He has written a book, Just One Thing, about the power of mindfulness. His top five practices include meditating, seeing what's good in the world, and wishing well. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-wise-brain/201609/wishing-well
The effects of positive emotions are widespread, and their benefits are seen across multiple areas of our lives. In a 2021 study involving teachers, positive emotions were the most predictive factor in job satisfaction and staff retention. Emotions such as joy, curiosity, and hope are vital counterparts to stress, which is often seen as the quantity and quality of negative emotions. https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-positive-emotions/?utm_content=cmp-true
Compassion is important to patients and their families, predicts positive patient and practitioner outcomes, and is a professional requirement of physicians around the globe. Despite the value placed on compassion, the empirical study of compassion remains in its infancy and little is known regarding what compassion ‘looks like’ to patients. The current study addresses limitations in prior work by asking patients what physicians do that helps them feel cared for. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9327826/
how do well-wishes affect the immune systemEvidence from many studies suggests that mental states such as stress can influence health. Still, it has proved difficult to explain how subjective moods connect with the vastly complex physiology of the nervous and immune systems. The field that searches for these explanations, known as psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), is often criticized as lacking rigour. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-happiness-boosts-the-immune-system/
Being kind to yourself is one of the healthiest decisions you can make. By practicing self-compassion, you can help your body avoid several repercussions of stress such as anxiety, depression, weight gain, digestive problems, sleep problems, and memory and concentration impairment. People who treat themselves with kindness are more likely to succeed and overcome challenges. https://www.stlukeshealth.org/resources/self-compassion-key-better-health
Fulvio D'Acquisto, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. Research in this field will allow a better understanding and appreciation of the immunological basis of mental disorders and the emotional side of immune diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5442367/
Study by Universities of Exeter and Oxford found that taking part in self-compassion exercises calms the heart rate, switching off the body's threat response. Previous studies have shown that this threat response damages the immune system. Researchers believe the ability to switch off this response may lower the risk of disease. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190206200344.htm
Emotions of wonder often involve a “violation of expectation” These are potent in inspiring us to explore, learn, and connect to others. Some experts see these emotions as the engine behind some of our world’s great minds.Here's a closer look at the wondrous emotions that enrich our lives. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/laughter-wonder-awe-surprise-emotions-immune-system
Meditation practices may impact physiological pathways that are modulated by stress and relevant to disease. Sixty-one healthy adults were randomized to 6 weeks of training in compassion meditation or participation in a health discussion control group. Physiologic and behavioral responses to the TSST were determined by repeated assessments of plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and cortisol. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695992/
Based on literature our findings showed that psychological well-being was proven could increase human body immune response. The evidenced were by improvements of several indicators in saliva, blood and plasma. The ability of immune response to tackle infectious diseases was thought to be influenced by the psychological status. These articles review searched and compiled using database Google Scholar, from 1995 to latest conducted using SALSA framework. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876785/
World Kindness Day is recognized on November 13 of each year. Chemicals released during the act of helping someone else help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, decrease blood pressure, protect our hearts, lessen aches and pains, strengthen our immune system and slow aging. Even a simple smile can have healing powers. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2016/11/boost-health-acts-kindness
There is no good scientific evidence to support the theory that stress makes a person more vulnerable to the development of cancer. Feelings of sadness and anger are normal and can coexist with hopefulness and being involved in life. Participation in a support group will allow you to confront stress and other negative feelings in a safe environment. https://www.simmsmanncenter.ucla.edu/center_events/healing-and-the-mind-emotions-and-the-immune-system/
Recent research suggests that our minds play a critical role in how we perceive and, in turn, experience our physical realities. At the heart of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths, which coincide with the researchers’ findings. The goal is practicing higher-order emotions, such as altruism, empathy, and compassion. https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/kindness-shown-to-have-positive-physical-and-mental-health-benefits/
Researchers have linked positive emotions with lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that signal the immune system to work harder. High levels of cytokines are associated with poorer health and such disorders as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and even Alzheimer's disease and clinical depression. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/awe_boosts_health
We examined the hypothesis that self-compassion is associated with lower levels of stress-induced inflammation. Psychosocial stress has been shown to elicit an inflammatory cascade similar to that elicited by illness or injury. Elevated levels of inflammation can increase the risk of a range of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311753/
In the past, inflammation and infectious diseases were thought to be only the result of the genetic heritage and the biological functioning of the body. Studies in recent decades stressed the importance of psychological balance and mental health on the body immunity. Psychosocial interventions suggest increased efficiency in reducing inflammation and improving immune system function. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7604758/
Psychoneuroimmunology examines how the brain, endocrine, and immune systems communicate. A growing field is beginning to shed light on how negative and positive moods affect immune function, disease, and mortality. Professor Fulvio D’Acquisto argues for the establishment of a more specific branch of study called affective immunology. https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/why-emotions-affect-the-immune-system
Negative moods may change the way in which the immune response functions. They are associated with an increased risk of exacerbated inflammation. Inflammation occurs naturally, when the body reacts to infections or wounds. High levels of inflammation are linked to poor health and chronic conditions, such as arthritis. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324090
The Mother Theresa effect was named after a Harvard University study where volunteers watching a video of Mother Theresa carrying out acts of kindness and compassion experienced an immune boost. A randomised controlled trial of 719 patients with the common cold found a connection between empathy shown to them in a doctor’s consultation and how quickly they recovered. It seems to me that kindness can boost the immune system. https://drdavidhamilton.com/can-kindness-boost-the-immune-system/
Researchers have found a wealth of evidence that positive emotions can enhance the immune system, while negative emotions can suppress it. Having fun with friends and family seems to have the opposite effect on our immune systems. Relaxation through massage or listening to music also reduces stress hormones. It’s also been found that happier people may be less likely to come down with colds. https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-does-mood-affect-immunity#1
University students who engaged in exercises focused on self-compassion had lower physiological arousal. Being kind to oneself switches off the threat response and puts the body in a state of safety and relaxation. Future research will need to explore whether the one-time self- Compassion exercises used in this study have similar effects for people with depression.https://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/observer/obsonline/self-compassion-benefits.html
The immune system is one of the most critical purveyors of our physical wellness. When our immune system struggles, it’s like a welcome sign for infection and disease. The immune system has even been referred to as our “floating brain,” aptly named for its ability to communicate with the brain through chemical messages. https://www.mindful.org/train-brain-boost-immune-system/
Compassion is the emotional response when perceiving suffering and involves an authentic desire to help alleviate that suffering. The Greater Good Science Center co-founder Dacher Keltner says compassion is “an evolved part of human nature, rooted in our brain and biology.” https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/compassionate_mind_healthy_body
New research shows empathy from a doctor can help patients fight off common illnesses. Patients who received respectful care also showed higher blood levels of a specific antibody for fighting colds and other upper-respiratory infections. Loneliness and fear were associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes, which are associated with certain diseases. https://www.dignityhealth.org/articles/how-respectful-care-can-boost-your-immune-system
The immune system protects your child's body from outside invaders. These include germs, viruses, and fungi, and toxins (chemicals made by microbes) The immune system is made up of different organs, cells, and proteins that work together. There are 2 main parts of the immune system: The innate immune system and the acquired immune system. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/the-immune-system
Analyzing data on 2,057 healthy subjects in the Dutch Lifelines database we explore the relationship between immune system responses, thyroid hormone functioning and people’s mood. Moods were measured on the positive (PA) and negative (NA) dimensions of the PANAS scale, divided in four groups based on their PA and NA median scores. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0216232
New Research Demonstrates Benefits of Self-Compassion on Physical Health. Researchers found that engaging in multiple sessions of self-compassion training led to improvements in physical health and increases in supportive health behaviors. The study was recently published in Health Psychology Review. In our current circumstances, it is important we keep returning to a self- Compassionate way of being. https://centerformsc.org/newly-released-meta-analysis-finds-that-people-with-higher-levels-of-self-compassion-are-more-likely-to-have-better-global-health/
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: “Foods To Boost the Immune System.” American College of Rheumatology: ‘TNF Inhibitors.’ Harvard Health Publishing: � “How to boost your immune system” “Grief can hurt — in more ways than one” https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ss/slideshow-how-you-suppress-immune-system
David R. Hamilton, PhD., author of Why Kindness Is Good for You, says kindness has a long-term protective effect on the body. Women with the highest hug scores had the highest levels of kindness hormones and the lowest blood pressure. Kindness hormones act like a dimmer switch in that brain region which plays a central role in stress. https://nrchealth.com/how-the-astounding-side-effects-of-kindness-can-boost-your-health/
The immune system is a vast and complex interconnected network of many different organs, cells and proteins that work together to protect the body from illness. A healthy immune system can defeat invading disease-causing germs (or pathogens), such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and cancer cells. Understanding how the immune system works is essential to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.pfizer.com/news/articles/how_the_immune_system_protects_you_from_infection
The acts of kindness lead to the secretion of hormones in our body that strengthen the immune system. Children raised with kindness have better immune systems. A kind human touch from one person to another is what is needed to protect us from a pandemic like COVID-19. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-little-known-benefits-kindness-your-immune-system-shruthi-reddy/