New research from Johns Hopkins University suggests that people with cheerful temperaments are significantly less likely to suffer heart attacks or similar coronary events.
Earlier research has shown that depressed and anxious people are more likely to have heart attacks and to die from them compared to those whose dispositions are brighter. This new research shows that a general sense of well-being – feeling cheerful, relax, energetic and satisfied with life – actually reduces the chances of a heart attack.
The lead author Lisa Yanek M.P.H. Is quoted as saying “If you are by nature a cheerful person and look on the bright side of things, you’re more likely to be protected from cardiac events.” She went on to say “A happier temperament has an actual effect on disease and you may be healthier as a result.”
The author emphasized that the mechanisms behind the protective effect of positive well-being remained unclear. I think most Integrative Doctors would agree with me that a positive attitude helps keep our neuro – immune system in a state of lower inflammation with a more healthy level of neurochemicals.
Further findings of the study were that patients with a positive well-being had a one third reduction in coronary events. And among those who were at a higher risk for a coronary event, but who kept a positive frame of mind, there was nearly a 50% reduction. These findings took into account other variables that were controlled for.
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