People with a more positive outlook on life have a lesser chance of facing cardiovascular problems.

Those who already suffer from cardiovascular disease experience a slower progression of it if they are a happy person, according to a new Harvard University study.

‘Happier, more optimistic people tend to engage in beneficial behaviors, like exercising and eating vegetables, and avoid damaging behaviors like cigarette smoking,’ said Julia Boehm, the lead researcher of the study, in an email. ‘They also tend to have better biological function, like lower cholesterol.’

Les Gellis, a Syracuse University visiting assistant professor of psychology, said he agrees with this finding.

‘Many individuals like the idea of comfort food,’ Gellis said. ‘If you are doing well you don’t engage in a high fat, high carb diet and you’re less likely to engage in riskier behavior.’

Boehm and her fellow researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health reviewed more than 200 studies published by other investigators that examined the relationship between well-being and cardiovascular events, well-being and health behaviors, and well-being and biological function. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire asking them how happy they felt, how optimistic they expected the future to be or how meaningful their lives were, Boehm said.

Tibor Palfai, psychology professor at SU, said he was not surprised by this information.

‘Anytime you get angry or excited it causes the nervous system to kick in. This method of living leads to higher blood pressure which strains blood vessels, which increases the chance of stroke and heart disease,’ Palfai said.

Though past research has suggested psychological distress is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, Boehm and her researchers decided to focus on the opposite: whether or not positive psychological factors, like optimism and happiness, could improve cardiovascular health, she said.

‘We were surprised that the association between well-being and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease was evident even when we accounted for traditional risk factors of cardiovascular disease, like obesity,’ said Boehm. ‘That is, well-being had a unique association with heart attacks and strokes, over and above typical risk factors.’

Gellis said he is aware of a growing body of evidence suggesting psychological intervention improves physiological well-being and physical health. A sense of well-being enhances the immune system and also enhances survival rates for disease, although he said psychologists are not entirely sure why that is.

Boehm said available evidence cannot yet provide specific interventions or strategies people can use to improve their well-being and cardiovascular health, but research suggests improving psychological strengths, such as optimism and happiness, while also repairing psychological deficits, like depression and anxiety, may improve cardiovascular health.

‘More research is needed to determine which comes first – greater well-being or healthier behaviors and biological function,’ Boehm said.

She questioned if well-being improves behaviors and biology, or if people are happier and more optimistic because they engage in a healthier lifestyle and function well biologically.

Rachel Gewirtz, sophomore social work major, said she agrees with Boehm’s findings and has witnessed this evidence firsthand.

‘With myself and my friends, it seems that when you are stressed you can’t take care of yourself as well,’ Gewirtz said. ‘When you manage your life, you can do things in a more proficient manner.’

kfluttma@syr.edu 

Published on April 23, 2012 at 12:00 pm