Positive attitude helps heart patients live longer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 600,000 people die from heart disease in the U.S. each year, and coronary artery disease (or ischemic heart disease) is the most common type of heart disease, killing more than 385,000 people annually.
This is why researchers in Denmark are calling for ischemic heart patients to adopt a positive attitude. The study finds that heart disease patients with a positive outlook on life were 42 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than those with a negative attitude. In addition, the study reports that heart patients with positive attitudes were twice as likely to exercise, which may add to the overall survival rates. However, researchers are unclear as to whether patients’ moods influence their decision to exercise, or whether exercise improves patients’ moods.
“Positive outcomes start with a positive attitude,” says Dr. Charles Jaffe, a cardiologist with Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill. “The better patients feel about themselves, the more likely they are to adhere to the advice of their physician. Further, this study supports our belief about the benefits and importance of exercise among heart patients.”
In addition to the heart-healthy benefits of a positive mood, experts also argue that having your glass half full can help:
- Overcome stress and anxiety
- Battle depression
- Boost your immune system
- Lengthen your lifespan
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health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
