Want to live longer? Think positive thoughts

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | Feb 27, 2006 | Anon

[Pharmboy]

Optimism is good for the heart, a study said on Monday.

The most optimistic among a group of 545 Dutch men age 64 to 84 had a roughly 50 percent lower risk of cardiovascular death over 15 years of follow-up, according to the study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Previous research has suggested being optimistic boosts overall physical health and lowers the risk of death from all causes. A positive attitude also has been shown to help patients who suffer from heart disease caused by narrowed arteries.

The new study measured participants' level of optimism about their lives by having them respond to statements such as "I do not look forward to what lies ahead for me in the years to come" and "My days seem to be passing by slowly," or "I am still full of plans."

"Optimism can be estimated easily and is stable over long periods," though it does tend to decrease with age, said lead researcher Erik Giltay of the Institute of Mental Health in Deft, the Netherlands.

On a scale of zero to three, with three being most optimistic, the average scores in the study fell from 1.5 in 1985 to 1.3 in 2000.

Higher scores were associated with being younger, being better educated, living with others, having better health, and doing more physical activity.

"It is yet to be established whether interventions aimed at improving an older individual's level of optimism may reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality," he added.

[Pharmboy]

We Freepers are an optimistic happy bunch (other than a few of you who don't like Ann Coulter). ( ;-D

To long life!

[Pharmboy]

Optimistic Dutch ping!

[Petronski]

On the other hand, the most extreme negative thinking is fatal.

[peyton randolph]

You mention her and don't post pics? Trying to increase negativity? ;-)

[Mears]

The only optimistic thought I can come up with is that we will never have another study on optimism.

[Billthedrill]

I think positive all the time. I'm positive Hillary will be our next prez, positive that the NRA will be declared a terrorist organization and its members sent off to the kind of camps where they don't have campfire singalongs, positive that the world will be wearing turbans and burqas in 20 years, positive that the Yankees will win another World Series, positive that an asteroid is going to impact North America, setting off the Yellowstone caldera and incinerating or smothering every man, woman, child, mammal, marsupial, invertebrate and Al Franken in a hideous 20-year holocaust.

But hey, I did save some money on my car insurance.

[Pharmboy]

Now THAT'S funny--especially the part about Franken roasting for 20 years.

[Petronski]

The only optimistic thought I can come up with is that we will never have another study on optimism.

We can only hope. ;O)

[Pharmboy]

I was afraid of turning this into another bash-Ann/defend-Ann thread.

[Millee]

I will live through rush hour. I will live through rush hour. I will live through rush hour............

[MplsSteve]

Yeah? Hey whatever, pal!

I don't have to listen to you!

:)

[Pharmboy]

I like your optimistic attitude! Excellent...

[GSlob]

Pathologically optimistic types come with their own set of problems. Thus, everything in moderation, optimism included.

[Pharmboy]

Indeed. No one is more optinmistic than a bipolar person in the middle of mania.

[ml/nj]

I wonder what I'll do with that $250 million.

ML/NJ

[Old Professer]

How did they go about adjusting for the pessimism that comes with ill health and pain?

[VOA]

bump

[Can i say that here?]

I am positive we're all going to die someday.

I wonder how many years that'll buy me?

[Pharmboy]

I will have a look at the original article and get back to you. That is a great point, and I would imagine they did a statistical manuever to address the covariables.

[afnamvet]

I am positive we're all going to die someday.

I wonder how many years that'll buy me?

About an hour and twenty minutes.