It reacts with pain: fake laughter is harmful to health
A smoked cigarette shortens your life by 15 minutes, a glass of vodka by five minutes, and general anesthesia shortens your life by five years. But quality sleep prolongs the cherished period by at least two years, and harmonious family relationships — by an average of five years. Izvestia, with the help of experts, tested these hypotheses and found out which laughter is good for health, whether the cold rejuvenates and who has a better chance of living to 100 years.
Is it true that laughter prolongs life?
Denis Prokofiev, a general practitioner with the status of "Moscow Doctor" and a cardiologist, considers the statement about life-prolonging laughter to be correct. It's not just about the joy and positive emotions that fun brings. First of all, laughter reduces the level of the stress hormone cortisol. As a result, the load on the nervous system decreases, and the production of endorphins increases. And this hormone of joy has a positive effect on many organs and systems, improving their functioning.
— Laughter has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system: vessels dilate, including the coronary ones. This ensures blood flow to all organs and systems, improves heart function through active blood circulation and oxygen enrichment," says Dr. Prokofiev.
Laughter really affects the release of endorphins, if only it is sincere, as they say, from the heart," adds psychiatrist and psychotherapist Alexey Vilkov.
— Such laughter helps to reduce anxiety and general internal tension, gives a positive attitude, — says Vilkov. — If laughter or a smile is insincere, that is, through force, they only demonstrate inner tension, anxiety and stiffness. It turns out to be a kind of social mask. All this, of course, does not improve health, either somatically or psychologically.
Fake laughter, from the psychiatrist's point of view, creates and maintains additional tension, gradually increasing the risk of somatization (physical pain caused by suppressed emotions).
How cigarettes harm centenarians
Tobacco opponents often repeat that smoking a cigarette shortens life by 15 minutes. Of course, smoking is one of the most harmful habits, but such statistics, from the point of view of doctors, it is almost impossible to verify.
— The life expectancy of smokers is influenced by many factors. This includes the number of cigarettes smoked, a genetic predisposition, smoking experience, and the presence of concomitant pathologies. But, of course, all doctors in the world agree that smoking is the main factor in the development of oncological diseases and diseases of the lung tissue, contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary bronchitis and diseases of the cardiovascular system, says Denis Prokofiev.
A dangerous dose of alcohol is how much
The psychiatric and drug treatment clinic of Dr. Isaev explained to Izvestia that there is a study according to which one standard dose of alcohol (about 10 g of pure ethanol) shortens life by about five minutes. But it is important to understand that this estimate is statistical and largely conditional.
— It does not reflect what is happening to a particular person, because the risks from alcohol consumption accumulate imperceptibly and relate not only to life expectancy, but also to its quality, — says Ruslan Isaev, head of the clinic, psychiatrist, narcologist, president of the Independent Narcological Guild.
According to the expert, the consequences of alcohol consumption are expressed in a real deterioration in health: increased blood pressure, sleep disorders, deterioration of cognitive functions, and a higher risk of developing anxiety and depressive disorders.
Alcohol has a direct effect on the brain — it changes the functioning of the dopamine system, weakens impulse control, and affects pleasure centers. Even moderate regular consumption can trigger the mechanism of addiction formation, especially for those who drink "to relieve tension" or "relax," Dr. Isaev continues.
The expert emphasized that the risk does not begin with binge drinking, but with a steady habit of drinking alcohol, even in small quantities. "Alcohol is not a neutral substance. It is a psychoactive substance that can change a person's life long before they realize it themselves," Ruslan Isaev believes.
What is good for a good night's sleep?
Prolonging life through sleep is quite realistic if you stick to the daily routine, says Denis Prokofiev.
— The sleep rate varies for all ages. Children of the first year of life get the most sleep: their sleep can reach 17 hours. The minimum amount is for people in the older age group: 7 hours. And this last indicator is taken as the lower limit of the norm of night rest," the doctor comments.
Dr. Prokofiev emphasizes that if this norm is not followed, then the activity of the central nervous system and the brain suffers first of all — the main impact falls on these vital areas. And when the brain is overextended, it affects all organs and systems. Therefore, the regime of wakefulness and sleep must be observed.
There are many different factors for quality sleep. In particular, you should go to bed and get up at the same time, sleep in complete darkness, stop watching gadgets an hour before lights out, not eat at night, etc.
— But the most important condition for a healthy rest is that the minimum number of hours of sleep should be at least seven, — the expert once again reminds. — Only under this condition can the central nervous system reboot, rest and recover so that there is enough energy and strength for the waking period.
How sex and age are related
At various times, it has been suggested that high-quality intimate relationships prolong life for a period of three to seven years. However, these figures are nothing more than hypotheses, since sexual activity and health are always interrelated, says sexologist and psychotherapist Alexei Vilkov.
— People with a good level of libido, who are in relationships with regular partners and do not complain about sexual activity, often experience positive emotions. They release endorphins, hormones of happiness and pleasure. This affects mood, reduces anxiety, and supports overall good physical well—being," explains the sexologist.
On the other hand, physical health, the absence of significant chronic diseases and the presence of permanent partners, in fact, allows people to be at their best in the intimate sphere, the expert summarizes.
— But it is almost impossible to answer the question of the number of years that are supposedly added to the life span. It's always individual, such indicators can be called abstract," says the sexologist.
How dangerous is general anesthesia?
Russians have long been terrified by the horror story that general anesthesia takes five years of a person's life. However, doctors refute this myth — anesthesia itself is harmless, but much depends on the professionalism of the anesthesiologist and specialists who prepare the patient for artificial sleep for the purpose of anesthesia.
"Anesthesia has no effect on life expectancy if it is certified and performed after a thorough medical examination,— comments Denis Prokofiev. — Specialists should check all possible risk factors, including allergic reactions and the presence of cardiovascular diseases.
The most important thing, according to the cardiologist, is the quality of drug sedation and individual dose selection for a particular patient.
Cold reception
Some supporters of an active lifestyle attribute healing properties to cold. It is believed that low temperatures under certain conditions not only prolong the years of activity, but also rejuvenate the body. And some even hope to gain immortality with his help.
— Cold really slows down the processes of vital activity. One of the areas of medicine is cryonics, based on the theory that the body can exist indefinitely in conditions of a decrease in body temperature and even freezing. The whole question is how to defrost it back," confirms Denis Prokofiev.
In modern conditions, the so—called cryotherapy is used - a method of treatment in which a person is exposed to low temperatures. It is believed that as a result of such procedures, the body heals and rejuvenates. But this method has contraindications, so a serious preliminary examination is necessary.
But it makes no sense to place high hopes on low temperatures in domestic conditions.
— Cold affects the body through vasoconstriction, which slows down blood flow and cardiac activity. The metabolic processes also slow down. But we must understand that our body spends a lot of energy on thermoregulation. You are unlikely to find centenarians among the peoples of the North, and this is precisely due to vascular problems," explains Denis Prokofiev.
The expert emphasizes that conditions of extremely low temperatures most often negatively affect life expectancy.
— That's why the northern wage allowances apply — the risks of people working in the cold are much higher compared to other climatic zones. Cold is a dangerous phenomenon for the body, in particular for the cardiovascular system, says the general practitioner.
The body has to constantly maintain body temperature despite harsh conditions, and this is quite an energy-consuming process, the expert summarizes.
My universities
Scientists have long noticed: active mental activity promotes excellent physical fitness, postpones aging. The most popular theory floating around the Web says that a year spent in a university classroom prolongs life by the same amount. From the point of view of science, it is impossible to verify such assumptions, but some facts confirm the optimistic hypothesis.
— There are so—called diseases of old age — these are Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, hypoxia and chronic cerebral ischemia, - says Denis Prokofiev. — All of them are associated with the suppression of the functioning of the brain and central nervous system. Constant brain activity helps slow down such processes and preserve mental health.
The cardiologist emphasizes that if the brain is constantly in an active state, then the processes of dementia will pass by, and life expectancy may increase. Long-lived academics are an example of this. Soviet surgeon, academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Fyodor Grigorievich Uglov lived for 103 years. Information about him can be found in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest practicing surgeon (75 years of practice). Mathematician, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Mikhailovich Nikolsky lived 107 years, and botanist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Artyom Leonovich Takhtajyan died at the hundredth year of his life.
How sports and life are connected
Doctors from Copenhagen, after 25 years of observing patients, came to the conclusion that playing lawn tennis can prolong life by 9.7 years. Whereas running enthusiasts, for example, get a chance to extend the cherished term by only three years. However, skeptics believe that this is the case when it is not the dog wagging its tail, but the tail wagging the dog. Lawn tennis, like golf, is often referred to as a sport for people who are financially secure and have enough time. Therefore, the quality of life for fans of this leisure option may be much higher for this reason than in the case of running, which is accessible to everyone.
One way or another, amateur sports certainly prolong life.
— Any physical activity, be it tennis or badminton, has a good effect on the cardiovascular system, muscles, and blood flow of the lower extremities, says the cardiologist. — The most effective sport is with such aerobic loads, which in cardiology and therapy are considered as essential benefits for the body, as a tool for prolonging life.
But, according to Dr. Prokofiev, if sports are not just leisure activities, but professional activities, then health problems are often unavoidable. Athletes significantly increase the stress on the joints and spine, and the risk of injury is high. Therefore, professionals should be careful and monitor changes in their health on time.
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