Smile makes your medicine work better?

Harvard Medical School researchers found that people reported 30 percent more pain relief when they were told positive information about a migraine medicine they were on than when they were told nothing or negative information—even if the drug was a placebo!

Compared to people who saw the good in situations, pessimists tend to have higher blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease and early death, a University of Pittsburgh study found. Even more: A study from the UK reported optimistic athletes are less likely to become injured, and they bounce back faster if they do get hurt, Fox News reports.

Try these easy tricks to adjust your attitude:

Smile. A study from the University of Kansas found that participants who smiled—regardless of if they were actually feeling happy—reported lower heart rates and reduced stress. Activating certain facial muscles sends a message to your brain that you are happy, researchers say.

Write down the good you have going on once a day.

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