For those who instantly saw it as a half full glass, there is some hearty news for you. The positive energy pervading your body will promote overall well-being and also lower cardiovascular risk by 50%.
In a study conducted among 545 Dutch men in the age group of 64 to 84, the most optimistic had a lower risk of cardiovascular death. Their life styles and demeanor had been tracked for nearly 15 years. This study has been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.This study has followed previous research which had shown that a positive outlook o to life gives a boost to overall physical health and increases longevity by lessening the risk of death from any cause. Even patients who suffer a heart disease because of narrow arteries are found to benefit with a positive attitude.
In this new study, the level of optimism amongst the participants was benchmarked against responses to leading statements like "I do not look forward to what lies ahead for me in the years to come" and "My days seem to be passing by slowly," or "I am still full of plans." The response was measured against a scale of zero to three, with three being most optimistic. The scores averaged from 1.5 in 1985 to 1.3 in 2000. The people with higher scores were younger, social and friendly, moderate physical activity, and were better educated.
Lead researcher Erik Giltay of the Institute of Mental Health in Deft, the Netherlands contends that “Optimism can be estimated easily and is stable over long periods, though it does tend to decrease with age. It is yet to be established whether interventions aimed at improving an older individual's level of optimism may reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality."
