Does being happy make us less likely to get sick?

Apr 1, 2026 5 min

About this episode

“Laughter is the best medicine”, so the old saying goes. But is there actually any truth to that - could we be less likely to get sick if we’re feeling positive about things? Well, psychoneuroimmunology research has shown that chronic stress, anxiety and depression all weaken the immune system. And the main culprit is stress hormone cortisol. When levels are too high, it disrupts sleep and undermines immunity, affecting our mood and more broadly, overall health. How does that work? What does happiness actually do to the body? Can happiness offset the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the latest episodes, click here: ⁠⁠What should I do with expired medicines?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠What is Quantum medicine and is it a scam?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Why is physical contact important for our health?⁠⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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