Positive Outlook May Be Good for Your Heart

Positive Outlook May Be Good for Your Heart

Be happy – it seems to be good for your heart. Scientists have long known that Type A personalities and people who are chronically angry, anxious or depressed have a higher risk of heart attacks.
Now a Harvard review of the flip side of that psychology concludes that being upbeat and optimistic just may help protect against heart disease.

Julia Boehm of the Harvard School of Public Health reviewed dozens of studies and found the most optimistic people had half the risk of a first heart attack when compared to the least optimistic. Boehm found that people with a better sense of well-being tend to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol and weight, and are more likely to exercise, eat healthier, get enough sleep and avoid smoking. But she cautioned that it will take more research to tease apart if a positive outlook makes people feel more like taking heart-healthy steps — or whether living healthier helps you feel more positive.