How Happiness Influences Our Health, In One Chart

Forget an apple a day when it comes to keeping the doctor away -- try a smile a day.

Happiness may be one of the best medicines when it comes to our physical health. Research suggests people who have an exuberant attitude also have a lower heart rate and lower levels of stress, among other perks. Happiness is also good for a company's bottom line: Businesses pay 41 percent less in health-related costs for employees who are happy.

But those aren't the only perks of a sunny disposition. Happify, a website dedicated to helping people build skills for happiness through science-based activities and games, explains how our joy influences our health and how to increase it in the infographic below. Cheers to a happier you (and a happier physician).

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