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.
Obesity and overweight, weight reduction and weight management therapies, miracle... Read More
Weight loss is a hot topic among people today, especially... Read More
Are you up to a cave man diet? You won't... Read More
Activity means both mental and physical activity.Mental activity is similar... Read More
I was overweight at my age. It's not a pretty... Read More
If you are among the millions of people searching for... Read More
There are those that walk amongst us who have followed... Read More
Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon:... Read More
So you've decided that you're going to do it.You're sick... Read More
In health clubs, they run classes that call themselves "aerobics".... Read More
With weight loss comes a lot of dedication and change... Read More
If you're on a weight loss program you're under constant... Read More
Use these tips to turbo charge your weight loss program.Take... Read More
What is the link between Hispanics and obesity? Are people... Read More
Close kept secrets to weight loss: Give me 9 days... Read More
Obesity is quickly becoming the number one health issue confronting... Read More
Exercising too hardThis is probably the most common mistake. As... Read More
Fat burning exercise is not merely one that will burn... Read More
How much will power does it take in order to... Read More
The rediscovery of the wealth of the wonder drug Hoodia... Read More
Have you ever wondered why diet books always seem to... Read More
If you knew when you were going to die, would... Read More
The goal of many athletes and exercisers is to "get... Read More
Rejuvenation and the Protein Revolution in Your Kitchen?2003 Marilyn DiamondIf... Read More
Students today are faced with the serious reality of unwanted... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..What to Do with the Leftovers?Okay, tell me if you've... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
Weight loss is one of the biggest industries in the... Read More
Why Making Small Changes in Your Eating Habits Adds up... Read More
Here are 4 diet tips we all need reminded of... Read More
The Quest to Reach Your Ideal WeightIt was late in... Read More
If you are about to begin a diet, the number... Read More
Notice, if you would, that every diet out there only... Read More
Just the facts on bodybuilding weightloss strategies that work. No... Read More
The holidays are now officially over and it's time to... Read More
I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More
How's this for a diet: Take in fewer calories than... Read More
Are you one of the many people who feel frustrated... Read More
1. What is Atkins Diet? Dr. Atkins diet, first introduced... Read More
Breaking Down Cravings One at a TimeI know you've heard... Read More
Recently, I was reading about a diet plan where you... Read More
Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More
For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More
Having just returned from a week of basking on a... Read More
Fat burners have become very popular in today's society, especially... Read More
There's more to gastric bypass than surgery and rapid massive... Read More
Some (not so) Silly Diet Tips and Why They're NotAt... Read More
Why have I allowed myself to get into this shape?... Read More
The most recent shocking news related to Atkins diet UK... Read More
In the early nineties doctors were beginning to see the... Read More
Weight Loss |