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Positive attitude may support heart health

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who feel satisfied with their daily lives may be less likely to receive unhealthy cholesterol test results. A new study published in the European Heart Journal has shown that happy and satisfied individuals tend to have healthier hearts than negative people.

It has long been known that depression is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. However, it had never been determined that a positive outlook on life is actually good for the heart until now.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health asked a group of British civil servants to rank their satisfaction in four life areas, including job, family, sex and self, on a seven-point scale. The results showed that those who were the most satisfied were 13 percent less likely to suffer from heart disease.

The findings underscore the important role a positive attitude can play in life, particularly for those who have other heart disease risk factors.

"These findings suggest that interventions to bolster positive psychological states - not just alleviate negative psychological states - may be relevant among high-risk individuals," said Julia Boehm, who led the investigation.