Two new studies show that optimistic individuals face lower risk of heart disease. The findings come from Columbia University researchers, presented at the American Heart Association scientific sessions, and released November 17 2009. The studies looked at optimism and lower heart disease over a ten year period, finding that lower hostility, anger and depression are linked to higher incidence of cardiovascular events..
In one study, researchers found that maintaining an optimistic outlook lowered heart disease risk among 2,380 randomly selected Canadian adults, ages 18 to 92.
Beginning in 1995, researchers examined cardiovascular outcomes among study participants with no known coronary artery disease, finding that those with a positive outlook had a lower incidence of heart disease over the ten year period.
In a second study, 1,621 participants were observed in videotaped interviews that measured signs of optimism and who were enrolled in the Nova Scotia Health Survey. A standard tool was used to measure hostility, anger and depression, again finding lower incidence of heart disease over ten years among individuals with an optimistic outlook.
Studies in women have shown that optimism leads to lower rates of heart disease. The two new studies show that maintaining a positive outlook, quelling anger and hostility, and finding ways to deal with depression can reduce risk of heart disease for men and women.
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Thanks for the research information, Kathleen.
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