Survey Results
In July 1999, Sloans Lake Insurance Company undertook a study of the results of the Refresh. Renew. Revitalize. Program, conducted at Boulder Community Hospital from January 1994 to January 1999.  At the conclusion of the eight weekly sessions evaluation questionnaires were obtained.  194 patient survey results are as follows:

Stress Coping Ability
92% reported their ability to cope with stress was improved.

General Well-Being
91% reported an increase in their feeling of general well-being.

Energy Level and Stamina
76% noted a rise in energy level and stamina.

Life-Style Changes
85% made positive lifestyle changes.

Hypertension
49% of the participants with hypertension reported an improvement.

Significance
   74% of the participants with severe pain reported a marked improvement and reduction of pain severity.

Pain Frequency
73% of the participants with reoccurring pain had less frequent pain.

Drug Usage
62% of the participants using medications reported their need for drugs was reduced or eliminated.In summary, participants who completed the program showed significant improvement in their ability to handle stress, relieve painful conditions, and enhance stamina.  Moreover, they developed a greater sense of control over their lives, and the confidence to improve their health.

Key Studies
A growing body of compelling scientific evidence demonstrates a link between mental and emotional attitudes, physiological health and long-term well-being. Men who complain of high anxiety are up to six times more likely than calmer men to suffer sudden cardiac death.
Kawachi et al. Circulation 1994; 89(5)

Three 10-year studies concluded that emotional stress was more predictive of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease than smoking; people who were unable to effectively manage their stress had a 40% higher death rate than non-stressed individuals.
H. Eysenck. Br J Med Psychol. 1988; 61(pt1)

A Harvard Medical School Study of 1,623 heart attack survivors found that when subjects got angry during emotional conflicts, their risk of subsequent heart attacks was more than double that of those that remained calm.
M. Mittleman et al. Circulation. 1995; 92(7)

According to a Mayo Clinic study of individuals with heart disease, psychological stress was the strongest predictor of future cardiac events such as cardiac arrest and heart attacks.
T. Allison et al. Mayo Clinic Proc. 1995;70(8)

Over one-half of heart disease cases are not explained by the standard risk factors such as high cholesterol, smoking or sedentary lifestyle.
R. Rosenman. Integr Phsiol Behav Sci 1993

An international study of 2,829 people between the ages of 55 and 85 found that individuals who reported the highest levels of personal “mastery”—feelings of control over life events—had a nearly 60% lower risk of death compared with those who felt relatively helpless in the face of life’s challenges.
B. Penninx et al. Am J Epidemio 1997; 146(6)

A recent study of heart attack survivors showed that patients’ emotional state and relationships in the period after myocardial infarction are as important as the disease severity in determining their prognosis.
S. Thomas et al. Am J Crit Care 1997; 6(2