According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing about stressful life events helped reduce symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis in patients with these chronic illnesses. The effects of the writing exercise were still evident four months later and resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in patient symptoms.
Interestingly, studies showed that asthma patients who wrote about their most stressful life events showed a 19-percent improvement in lung function; similarly, rheumatoid arthritis patients had a 28-percent reduction in symptoms.
These findings add to a growing body of evidence that links mental and emotional health to physical well-being. Although researchers aren't sure exactly how expressive writing can lead to health improvements, they theorize that writing help people cope with stress, and stress-as well all know-clearly impacts health.
University of Texas at Austin psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker believes that regular journaling strengthens immune cells, called T-lymphocytes. He theorizes that writing about stressful events helps you come to terms with them, thus reducing the impact of these stressors on your physical health.
Louise Moran, a nurse coordinator, has written about a patient who, during a serious illness, sent daily e-mails to friends and family about her illness, a practice the woman believes played a pivotal role in her healing process. Moran said another patient felt that journaling helped her create a new life after breast cancer. There have even been studies suggesting that journaling in healthy people actually improves the immune system.
Patti Testerman is content manager at journalgenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Want to discover self-defeating patterns, or find better ways to communicate in a relationship? Check out our site.
Weight loss is so consistent and rapid after gastric bypass... Read More
I have been seriously working on losing weight for about... Read More
There's one thing that most people forget about when it... Read More
First of all we need to find out a reason... Read More
Have you ever seen an overweight rock climber or yoga... Read More
In the battle to look good, there's a cosmetic treatment... Read More
Most of us are aware of the AA axiom of... Read More
Recently, I won a family cruise on the Regis and... Read More
Many of enjoy sitting down at Starbucks and enjoying a... Read More
Lets face it, most of us live pretty busy lives... Read More
Atkins Nutritionals recently announced that they are filing for Chapter... Read More
Some people think that skipping breakfast will help them lose... Read More
Are you wondering why you're not losing weight? If you're... Read More
How much will power does it take in order to... Read More
A 'diet' is always seen as a temporary measure. An... Read More
I am a Registered Dietitian who has spent over 10,000... Read More
Don't get discouraged. I, too, have found myself in this... Read More
A frequent question brand-new gastric bypass patients ask is "How... Read More
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more... Read More
Which is easier to do ? turn a car's steering... Read More
When embarking on a weight loss program people will almost... Read More
As the dieting phenomenon grows, with a new "diet guru"... Read More
If winter hibernation tends to pack on the pounds, take... Read More
It was bad enough hearing almost daily that obesity in... Read More
Using healthy low carb recipes are an important part of... Read More
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..Wanna know the truth? If you're going to... Read More
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More
Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More
A number of popular diets are focused on carbohydrates. Some... Read More
There are all kinds of fad diets and quick fixes... Read More
WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness... Read More
Calorie burn can be really enhanced if you follow a... Read More
I do not smoke, never have, and admit to being... Read More
Choosing the right diet type is the most important decision... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet... Read More
When you talk about losing weight you're really talking about... Read More
If only we could solve this question, the world (for... Read More
If you are among the millions of people searching for... Read More
Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of... Read More
Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More
Losing weight is a tough and demanding task for most... Read More
Weight Watchers inspired me to change my eating habits, lose... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Fat does Not Make You Fat. One of the other... Read More
Be Prepared. For the Boy Scouts it means you are... Read More
These days, most everyone has heard of low carb diets... Read More
It's a sad comment on human nature that prejudice and... Read More
This year, we all made some of the typical New... Read More
America's Obesity EpidemicAs the numbers of overweight Americans continue to... Read More
Weight Loss |