Heart health boosted by optimistic outlook
24 April 2012
Optimistic people appear to be at a reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events, according to a review of more than 200 studies.
Psychological assets such as optimism and positive emotion provided protection against heart disease and could slow its progress, the US researchers found.
They showed that the most optimistic individuals had about a 50 per cent reduced risk of experiencing an initial cardiovascular event.
Individuals with a sense of wellbeing were found to have engaged in healthier behaviours like exercising and eating a balanced diet, and they had better biological function such as lower blood pressure and healthier cholesterol levels.
Many studies have shown negative states are detrimental to heart health, but this is the first to review the influence of positive psychological wellbeing on cardiovascular health.
Last Reviewed: 24 April 2012
- Boehm JK, Kubzansky LD. The heart's content: The association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health. Psychol Bulletin 2012; online 17 April.
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