Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Optimism Associated with Lower RIsk of Having A Stoke

DALLAS, July 21, 2011 — A positive outlook on life might lower your risk of having a stroke, according to new research reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

In an observational study, a nationally representative group of 6,044 adults over age 50 rated their optimism levels on a 16-point scale. Each point increase in optimism corresponded to a 9 percent decrease in acute stroke risk over a two-year follow-up period.

“Our work suggests that people who expect the best things in life actively take steps to promote health,” said Eric Kim, study lead author and a clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of Michigan.


Optimism is the expectation that more good things, rather than bad, will happen.

Previous research has shown that an optimistic attitude is associated with better heart health outcomes and enhanced immune-system functioning, among other positive effects.

The study is the first to discover a correlation between optimism and stroke. Previous research has shown that low pessimism and temporary positive emotions are linked to lower stroke risk.

Stroke is the No. 3 killer in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer, and a leading cause of disability.

Co-authors of the study are Nansook Park, Ph.D., and Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. Author disclosures are on the manuscript.

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