A positive outlook may be good for your heart, suggests new study

Having an optimistic mind-set may reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and early death, a review of studies has found.

In previous studies, optimism has been shown to be associated with a range of favourable physical health outcomes and with greater success in work, school and relationships.

This new meta-analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, included 15 studies that measured optimism and pessimism by asking the level of agreement with such statements as “In uncertain times, I usually expect the best,” or “I rarely expect good things to happen to me.”

Analysis of the 10 studies that looked at heart disease, which pooled data on 209,436 people, found that compared with pessimists, people with the most optimistic outlook had a 35 per cent lower risk for cardiovascular events.

Nine studies with data on all-cause mortality included 188,599 participants and found that optimists had a 14 per cent lower risk of premature death than the most pessimistic people. Read Complete Article