People apparently know what they’re talking about when it comes to their own health, according to a new study. Not only that, doctors may find use in these self-assessments when gauging a patient’s overall health, says the New York Times.

A new study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology included results showing that how a person says he feels might be more indicative of overall health than more objective markers such as blood tests. The study followed 1,500 participants in Texas who filled out a 36-point questionnaire. The people who said they didn’t feel well also showed up with inflammation markers and viruses in blood samples.

Check out the New York Times to see how the study’s author views that interplay of psychology and physical health.