St(he)art seeing the glass half full

Research infers optimistic individuals twice as likely to have ideal cardiovascular health.

NEW YORK: The more optimistic you are, the better it is for your health. New research has found that those who have an upbeat outlook on life have significantly better cardiovascular health than that of pessimists. Optimism boosts overall health but its positive impact on the heart is even greater, the findings showed.

People who were the most optimistic were twice as likely to have ideal cardiovascular health, and 55 per cent more likely to have a total health score in the intermediate range, the researchers found. “Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their pessimistic counterparts,” said lead author Rosalba Hernandez, a professor of social work at the University of Illinois.

“This association remains significant even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and poor mental health,” Hernandez added. The study examined associations between optimism and heart health in more than 5,100 adults.

Participants’ cardiovascular health was assessed using seven metrics: blood pressure, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose and serum cholesterol levels, dietary intake, physical activity and tobacco use. They also completed surveys that assessed their mental health, levels of optimism and physical health. The study appeared in the journal Health Behaviour and Policy Review. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th,  2015.

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