A Better Way to Stay Healthy This Winter

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It’s cold season. If you are exposed to the general public or have children in daycare, it may seem inevitable that you, too, will fall to this common viral infection. Well, not necessarily. As it turns cold, it’s useful to consider a series of studies that suggest our outlook and attitude may play a role in whether we become sick or not.

First, let’s take a look at the common cold. It is a viral infection, which means that it can be caught pretty easily when out in public. The Centers for Disease Control report that between 13.7-16.6% of us will get a cold during the colder months, many of us more than once. If someone coughs, sneezes, or even talks, tiny airborne droplets can be breathed in, potentially making us sick. Contact surfaces can also do the trick: Subway railings, doorknobs, the coffeemaker, etc. can have contaminated surfaces, and touching them can lead to exposure.

Why Attitude Matters

Psychological Stress. Sheldon Cohen of Carnegie Mellon University was a pioneer in researching the effect of psychological stress on the body’s response to inflammation. In a seminal study, he and colleagues exposed volunteers to a common cold virus and found that those who experienced higher levels of psychological stress were more susceptible to the cold. Higher inflammation was the likely culprit.

Happiness and Optimism. We also know that the opposite is generally true: If someone has a positive outlook and attitude, it can be protective against the common cold. The same research suggested that happier people seem to be less susceptible to getting a cold. And research published just this year found that having a higher degree of optimism helps people experience colds as less severe, even when they do become sick.

Change Your Attitude, Change Your Health?

Of course, we all get sick from time to time; no amount of optimism or positive attitude will actually make us immune to illness. However, any edge in the health arena is worth taking advantage of. Here are some easy suggestions to keep your stress down and your outlook up:

• Practice Gratitude. Documenting “three good things” from each day is protective against emotional distress. It also shapes our outlook in that we start to notice more positive aspects of our days since we know we will write them down later. This, in turn, promotes serotonin and dopamine, feel-good chemicals in the brain.
• Physical Activity. Numerous studies have reported on the many benefits of exercise on our bodies and minds, including stress reduction.
• Mindfulness Practices. I encourage nearly all of my patients to begin a mindfulness practice. It is important to remember that this does not necessarily mean sitting cross-legged on the floor meditating. Rather, we can walk, eat, and listen to music mindfully, all of which are useful for reducing stress. The only guidelines are for you to try to stay in the present moment and to be non-judgmental about the process.

I wish you good health during these colder months—but I also encourage you to optimize your chances of staying healthy by practicing self-care and stress management techniques.