Maintaining optimistic and positive thoughts aids lifetime

Not everyone can easily be optimistic. But a study shows that being optimistic can have a good impact, not only on the mind but also on health. A study revealed that people who are positive tend to be long-lived.

Having a positive mind lowers the risk of heart attack, serious health problems, and may even reduce the risk of death. The results showed that after a heart attack, patients who are pessimistic are likely to have serious health conditions twice as high as optimistic patients.

For this study researchers conducted a survey of the mental attitude of 369 patients who experienced heart attacks and angina for 46 months. The researchers found an association between the optimistic attitude that patients show with their physical state.

The study was led by the British Heart Foundation, Professor Andrew Steptoe. Researchers also found that an optimistic attitude could help patients to stop smoking. Pessimistic patients are still smoking for a year after discharge, while 85 percent of optimistic smokers have quit smoking a year later.

Optimistic patients are also known to consume more fruits and vegetables and adopt a healthier lifestyle than pessimistic patients. Steptoe followers, optimists tend to exercise advice given by doctors and make lifestyle changes healthier.

As a result these habits make their health improve and reduce the risk of heart attack again, experiencing health problems, and reduce the risk of death. Previous research has found a link between optimistic attitude and stress in heart patients.

Heart patients who are optimistic have a lower risk of stress and depression than pessimists. Though stress and depression in the end can also affect the possibility of patients to experience heart attacks and other health problems.