Researchers discovered that people who see the glass as half full enjoy better cardiovascular health

Jan 10, 2015 09:03 GMT  ·  By

In a recent report in the journal Health Behavior and Policy Review, researchers with the University of Illinois detail how, having taken the time to assess the overall condition of a few thousand people, they found that optimists have healthier tickers.

Thus, the scientists say that, according to their investigations into the matter at hand, those who see the glass as half full, who like to walk on the bright side of life or who see each and every cloud as having a silver lining enjoy better cardiovascular health.

Documenting the link between optimism and a healthy heart

Study lead author Rosalba Hernandez and fellow University of Illinois researchers explain that, as part of their investigation, they gathered information concerning the heart health of over 5,100 volunteers between the ages of 45 and 84.

The participants in this study were also asked to complete questionnaires designed to assess their levels of optimism and their mental health. To ensure that their results would be as accurate as possible, the researchers enlisted people belonging to different ethnicities and races in the study.

As detailed in the journal Health Behavior and Policy Review, the volunteers whose heart and mental health were assessed during this investigation were as follows: 38% white, 28% African-American, 22% Hispanic/Latino, and 12% Chinese.

Optimism and a healthy heart go together in perfect harmony

The University of Illinois specialists behind this study say that, once all the data obtained during the initial phase of the investigation was compiled and analyzed, it became clear that the optimists of the group enjoyed considerably better heart health.

“Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts. This association remains significant, even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and poor mental health,” says Rosalba Hernandez.

What's more, it appears that, when compared to pessimists, optimists tend to have better blood sugar and total cholesterol level. As it turns out, these health perks might be due to the fact that they are more likely to exercise on a regular basis, opt for a healthy diet, and choose not to smoke.

In light of these findings, the University of Illinois researchers argue that, to help people in the US experience an improvement in their overall health condition, folks with the American Heart Association should probably first focus on raising their morale.

As Rosalba Hernandez put it, “This evidence, which is hypothesized to occur through a biobehavioral mechanism, suggests that prevention strategies that target modification of psychological well-being – eg., optimism – may be a potential avenue for AHA [the American Heart Association] to reach its goal of improving Americans’ cardiovascular health by 20 percent before 2020.”