If you are the kind of person who always sees your glass as half full, you are likely to have a healthier heart, a study has found.
Research involving thousands of British civil servants revealed that the more self-satisfied they were, the fewer problems they had with their hearts.
The researchers, from the respected Harvard University in the US, cannot be sure why this is the case, especially as the finding still stood when factors such as weight and blood pressure were taken into account.
But they say that something as simple as being more contented with your lot in life could have knock-on benefits on the health of your heart.
Almost 8,000 civil servants were quizzed about their satisfaction with seven areas of their everyday lives - love and relationships, hobbies, standard of living, job, family, sex life and “one’s self”.
Data on their heart health was then taken from their medical records over the following six years and the two compared.
Those who were highly satisfied with their lives overall were 13 percent less likely to have suffered heart problems, with self-satisfaction, happy working, family and sex lives being particularly important.
And the more content someone was, the healthier their heart, the European Heart Journal reports. It is thought that optimists fare better because they refuse to let bad health get them down. Those who look on the bright side are also more likely to follow their doctor’s advice.
Studies also show that pessimists and people who lack self-confidence have a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes than their more optimistic friends. - Daily Mail