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Don’t worry , be happy seams to be the new medication for a healthy cardiovascular system. Researchers say that optimists have less chances to suffer from a stroke and be affected by heart disease.
According to professor and lead author, Rosalba Hernandez at the University of Illinois, individuals who live with an optimistic view have double the chances of having a healthy cardiovascular system as compared to pessimistic ones. She added that this affirmation remains standing even when dealing with weak mental health and socio-demographic characteristics.
The study was based on the analysis of more than 5,100 people. Researchers graded the cardiovascular health of all the participants according to factors such asblood pressure, daily diets, physical activity, tobacco intake, the cholesterol, fasting plasma and glucose levels. These factors are also used by the American Heart Association, in order to establish heart health and they were included in the awareness campaign Life’s Simple Seven.
The next step of the study was for the researchers to set the levels of the cardiovascular health for each individual. They were given 0,1 or 2 points to each of the seven health factors, according to their status they would get , poor, intermediate or ideal grades. The end of the grading should sum up the heart health of each.
The scores were from 0 to 14 and the higher the score, the better the health. According to the results, the final scores of the participants were directly proportional to their optimism level. The super optimistic persons had from 50 to 76 percent higher chances of having their final health results ranging from intermediate to ideal. Characteristics like age, education level, and monthly income strengthened the liaison between being optimistic and hearth health. The optimistic persons proved to be physically more attractive and they had healthier levels of blood sugar and cholesterol and also their body mass index was in a better state. This suggests that optimistic individuals have decreased chances of suffering from a stroke.
Professor Hernandez believes that results like this, that can occur thanks to the mental state and behaviour of a person suggest that modifications at a psychological degree, such as being optimist could help scientists improve the American cardiovascular condition with 20 percent before year 2020.
Image Source: PBS
