It s called pleasure. This pleasure prescription is filled in the internal pharmacy of the patient s brain. The healthiest, most robust people seem to make the connection between pleasure and health intuitively, said Sobel, who is regional director of patient education and health promotion for the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland. They indulge in many small daily pleasures and manage to cultivate a positive, optimistic outlook. They discovered things they could be safely passionate about and enjoy with gusto.
Studies prove the benefits of pleasure.
Another study showed that following a heart attack, owning a pet reduced a person s risk of a recurring heart attack by 80 percent. Researchers also have found that massage therapy can reduce symptoms and the need for medication in adults suffering from chronic muscle tension, body aches and pain. Another study gave half of 46 patients recovering from surgery a window view of the great outdoors and the rest a view of a brown brick wall. Patients in the first group experienced less distress, required less potent pain medication and were discharged on average a day earlier than the others.