A positive outlook bolsters health

BOSTON, March 30 (UPI) -- A sunny perspective on life may guard against many health problems, says a U.S. study.

Massachusetts General Hospital researchers interviewed 193 healthy volunteers daily for two weeks about their positive and negative emotions, and then exposed subjects to a cold or flu virus.

Twenty-eight percent of infected individuals who often reported positive emotions developed symptoms such as cough or congestion, compared with 41 percent who developed symptoms and who rarely reported positive emotions, according to the study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

"Positive emotions are thought to be beneficial to health," researcher Dr. Darin D. Dougherty said in statement. "Negative emotions in excess can be physically and psychologically harmful."

People can minimize health problems associated with emotional stressors by seeking out positive experiences and avoiding situations that cause distress. People should also use stress reduction techniques to address stresses beyond their control.