Beyond diet and exercise, a positive attitude is a critically important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Gratitude is central to to a positive outlook on life.

The Heartfelt Gratitude Project encourages patients to contemplate the dedication of physicians and nurses, and the benefits we all receive from the clinicians who form the backbone of healthcare. Media focus on problems in healthcare has overshadowed the wonderful dedication of caregivers, and the incredible benefits of medicine today.

At Thinklabs, we have developed a stethoscope that enhances the worklife of physicians and nurses, making listening to patients’ hearts and lungs more rewarding and enjoyable. We have done this by clearly amplifying the muted sounds of the heart and lungs. Think of it as improving communication between the patient’s heart and the clinician’s mind.

The Heartfelt Gratitude Project was launched to communicate what also exists in patients’ hearts – Gratitude. Like heart sounds, it is muted and seldom clearly heard. Think of it as improving communication between the patient’s mind and the clinician’s heart.

The healthcare system today is challenging to all concerned. Physicians are under pressure from both payers and patients. Nurses work harder than ever, as hospitals admit only the most seriously-ill patients. Patients are faced with ever-higher premiums.

Yet life expectancy in America has almost doubled in the last century, and treatments for life-threatening conditions are improving every year, with amazing results.

Studies have shown that a positive attitude to life actually improves heart condition and helps the immune system. By providing patients with the opportunity to thank physicians and nurses for the work they do, patients spend a moment doing something healthy, and clinicians find out that their work is truly appreciated.

In the future, the Heartfelt Gratitude Project will expand in scope. Visit us again, as we add references to clinical studies on gratitude, optimism, and health. We are just getting started.

We are also seeking stories of gratitude for medical care received from dedicated professionals. If you have a story you’d like to share, send us an email at gratitude@thinklabsmedical.com. We will contact you before publishing any content.

References

The medical benefits of mental attitude are well-documented. Attitude affects body chemistry, influencing myriad disease mechanisms. Stress is well understood as a factor in heart disease, and link between physical health and depression are also evident. Here are a few references on health and happiness:

The Heart Speaks: A Cardiologist Reveals the Secret language of Healing - Mimi Guarneri, MD, FACC.

A hard-driving Type-A Interventional Cardiologist at Scripps Center in San Diego discovers unusual factors that affect her patients' heart disease. A real eye-opener regarding the relationship between attitude and heart condition for physicians and patients alike. A fascinating heartfelt read for the lay reader, an education in compassionate medicine for the professional. Written for a wide audience, one would like to see a professional companion to this book, with more scientific discussion. Guarneri is a highly eloquent writer. You will read this from cover to cover in one sitting.

University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center

Martin Seligman heads a center that studies the psychology of happiness. Realizing that psychology had focused entirely upon what makes people miserable, Seligman decided it was time to study the happy and well-adjusted. What a concept! Take an online test at their website and learn how to become happier by playing to your strengths. Seligman's book "Authentic Happiness" expands on the website, and explains some interesting patterns that emerged from extensive research. Physicians weary of malpractice lawsuit stress might be pleased to learn that lawyers are the most miserable professionals in the country - they focus entirely on what can go wrong, making them pessimistic by training.

http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/

 
We will be adding more references to this page. Please contact us with ideas.