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Study: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
For Better Cardiovascular Health
By Grace Wiltbank
Contributing Writer
Are you an incorrigible grump? Somebody who is always down, mad at the world and itching for a fight? If so, get over it and get happy.
Numerous studies over the last several years have shown that “psychological deficits” such as anger, hostility, anxiety and depression are detrimental to cardiovascular health.
Now researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have found that the opposite also is true. Positive psychological characteristics help to make a healthy heart.
In what they say is the “first and largest systematic review on this topic to date,” the researchers said that “positive psychological well being appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.”
Julia Boehm, lead author of the study and a research fellow at HSPH, said: “The absence of the negative is not the same as the presence of the positive. We found that factors such as optimism, life satisfaction and happiness are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease regardless as such factors as a person’s age, socioeconomic status, smoking habits or body weight. For example, the most optimistic individuals had an approximately 50% reduced risk of experiencing an initial cardiovascular event compared to their less optimistic peers.”
Laura Kubzanski, senior author of the study and an associate professor at HSPH, said that not only do psychological assets like optimism and positive emotion afford protection against cardiovascular disease but these factors also appear to slow progression of the disease.
Both researchers said they found that individuals with a sense of well being engaged in healthier activities such as exercising, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep. In addition, the researchers said, a greater sense of well being was found to be related to lower blood pressure, healthier blood fat readings, and normal body weight.
Prof. Kubzanski said that “if future research continues to indicate that higher levels of satisfaction, optimism and happiness lead to cardiovascular health, this has strong implications for the design of prevention and intervention strategies.”
These findings, she said, suggest that cardiovascular health can be improved by instilling in patients a brighter view of life, rather than simply trying to eradicate the patient’s psychological deficits. Researchers cited reports by the American Heart Association (AHA) showing that 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death every 39 seconds. Stroke accounts for about one out of every 18 U.S. deaths, according to the AHA.
Commenting on the Harvard study in which she was not involved, Elizabeth Jackson of the University of Michigan and the American College of Cardiology told The Associated Press that while more research is needed, the link between psychological and physical well being makes sense. She said that among her own heart patients she has noticed that those who feel they have some control over their lives and can help themselves get well have better outcomes.
Asked what can be done for people who are by nature pessimists, Dr. Jackson replied: “that’s a hard question. There’s no magic happy pill.” She added: “Sometimes it’s hard, particularly in tough economic times, but taking a moment to just relax and enjoy a sunny day, might be good heart health.”
The Harvard Study was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and published on-line in the April 17 edition of the Psychology Bulletin.
For Better Cardiovascular Health
By Grace Wiltbank
Contributing Writer
Are you an incorrigible grump? Somebody who is always down, mad at the world and itching for a fight? If so, get over it and get happy.
Numerous studies over the last several years have shown that “psychological deficits” such as anger, hostility, anxiety and depression are detrimental to cardiovascular health.
Now researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) have found that the opposite also is true. Positive psychological characteristics help to make a healthy heart.
In what they say is the “first and largest systematic review on this topic to date,” the researchers said that “positive psychological well being appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events.”
Julia Boehm, lead author of the study and a research fellow at HSPH, said: “The absence of the negative is not the same as the presence of the positive. We found that factors such as optimism, life satisfaction and happiness are associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease regardless as such factors as a person’s age, socioeconomic status, smoking habits or body weight. For example, the most optimistic individuals had an approximately 50% reduced risk of experiencing an initial cardiovascular event compared to their less optimistic peers.”
Laura Kubzanski, senior author of the study and an associate professor at HSPH, said that not only do psychological assets like optimism and positive emotion afford protection against cardiovascular disease but these factors also appear to slow progression of the disease.
Both researchers said they found that individuals with a sense of well being engaged in healthier activities such as exercising, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep. In addition, the researchers said, a greater sense of well being was found to be related to lower blood pressure, healthier blood fat readings, and normal body weight.
Prof. Kubzanski said that “if future research continues to indicate that higher levels of satisfaction, optimism and happiness lead to cardiovascular health, this has strong implications for the design of prevention and intervention strategies.”
These findings, she said, suggest that cardiovascular health can be improved by instilling in patients a brighter view of life, rather than simply trying to eradicate the patient’s psychological deficits. Researchers cited reports by the American Heart Association (AHA) showing that 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death every 39 seconds. Stroke accounts for about one out of every 18 U.S. deaths, according to the AHA.
Commenting on the Harvard study in which she was not involved, Elizabeth Jackson of the University of Michigan and the American College of Cardiology told The Associated Press that while more research is needed, the link between psychological and physical well being makes sense. She said that among her own heart patients she has noticed that those who feel they have some control over their lives and can help themselves get well have better outcomes.
Asked what can be done for people who are by nature pessimists, Dr. Jackson replied: “that’s a hard question. There’s no magic happy pill.” She added: “Sometimes it’s hard, particularly in tough economic times, but taking a moment to just relax and enjoy a sunny day, might be good heart health.”
The Harvard Study was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and published on-line in the April 17 edition of the Psychology Bulletin.