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Health Effects of Positive Thinking

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? How you respond tells a great deal about your personality. Having a rosy attitude can play a pivotal role in one's health and life in general. This article seeks to explain the health effects of positive thinking.

  1. Benefits

    • The Mayo Clinic reports that overall positive thinking has numerous benefits on one's health. Optimists tend to live longer, have lower stress levels, be more resistant to getting a cold, be more physically fit, and have better ways of coping than those who are pessimists. The Mayo Clinic also reports that pessimists run a greater risk for dementia and Parkinson's disease.

    An Optimist's Outlook

    • So what makes an optimist more likely to be healthier than their sourpuss counterparts? An optimist holds the opinion that they can control outcomes in life. The Mayo Clinic states that optimists are more inclined to eat healthy and get regular exercise. Optimists tend to shy away from unhealthy habits such as partaking in too much alcohol and too many cigarettes. An optimist has good coping skills and tends not to get bent out of shape if something goes wrong. If an optimist falls ill, he or she looks for the best medical care possible and listens to medical advice.

    Positive Attitude Among Cardiac Patients

    • The Harvard Medical School reports in a 2008 finding that a rosy disposition can lead to a quicker recovery for cardiac patients. Physicians evaluated over 300 middle-aged patients who were due to have a bypass operation. Each patient was evaluated for levels of optimism, depression, and self-esteem. Researchers followed the patients for half a year after the operation. The results showed that the optimists were less likely to need to be re-admitted. In another study, nearly 300 angioplasty patients were evaluated. Results showed that during a six-month span, optimists were less apt to suffer from a heart attack or need bypass surgery.

    Positive Attitude and Survival

    • Published in 2004, a study of more than 900 Dutch seniors ranging from ages 65 to 80 showed that those who possessed a more optimistic outlook at the onset of the study were more likely to live longer than those who were more pessimistic during a nine-year follow-up period.

    Weight Loss

    • Most of us can stand to lose a few pounds. Losing weight takes will power and a positive attitude. Simply by shedding just 10 percent of your weight can have health benefits such as increased energy levels and help lower cholesterol levels. According to Weight Watchers, you should tackle weight loss by imagining your success. Avoid self-defeat by replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations. While it would be nice if we could simply will ourselves to lose weight, a positive attitude goes a long way to believing we can achieve our weight-loss goal.

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