How does your attitude affect your heart health?

Everyone has a bad day. But did you know that your attitude not only lifts your mood, but can also protect your heart?

More and more scientific studies are showing this: An optimistic outlook on life can not only extend your lifespan, but also drastically reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Why your mindset determines your health

For a long time, it was believed that poor health was the cause of a negative attitude. However, recent research suggests that it is often the other way around: a negative mindset can trigger unhealthy behaviors and thus increase your risk of disease.

An international team of researchers analyzed 15 different studies with a total of almost 230,000 participants. The result: people with an optimistic mindset had a 35% lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and sudden cardiac death compared to pessimists. Another long-term study found that optimists live on average 15% longer than their pessimistic contemporaries.

How optimism influences your behavior

Optimistic people tend to make healthier choices: they exercise more, eat better and socialize. Pessimism, on the other hand, often leads people to be less active, develop unhealthy habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption and withdraw socially.

Furthermore, research shows that a negative mindset has physiological effects on the body. It can promote chronic inflammation and negatively affect metabolism - two factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How to train your optimism

Becoming more optimistic is not rocket science. With targeted training, you can make a lasting change to your mindset. Here are some scientifically proven methods:

1. mindfulness and meditation: studies show that conscious awareness of thoughts and emotions without judgment can help break negative thought spirals and develop a more positive mindset.

2. practise gratitude: Actively focusing on the positive aspects of your life and noting them regularly trains your brain to think more optimistically.

3. strengthen resilience: solving problems, seeing setbacks as learning opportunities and approaching challenges with an open mind promotes a confident attitude.

4. set and pursue goals: Having clear, achievable goals gives life direction and meaning - and boosts your confidence in the long term.

It's never too late to work on your attitude. Your heart will thank you!

Sources:

• Boehm, J. K., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2012). The heart's content: the association between positive psychological well-being and cardiovascular health. Psychological Bulletin, 138(4), 655-691.

• Rozanski, A., Bavishi, C., Kubzansky, L. D., & Cohen, R. (2019). Association of Optimism With Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality. JAMA Network Open, 2(9), e1912200.

• Seligman, M. E. P. (2008). Positive health. Applied Psychology, 57(s1), 3-18.