--- description: New research links a positive attitude with cardiovascular health title: How Optimism Might Be Good for Your Heart image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Heart Disease](/tag/heart-disease/) ## Heart Disease Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How Optimism Might Be Good for Your Heart by [Laura Stampler](/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 12, 2015 2:08 PM CUT by [Laura Stampler](/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 12, 2015 2:08 PM CUT A new study finds that an optimistic outlook on life might be good for your heart—and not in the metaphorical, warm-and-fuzzy kind of way. People with an upbeat, can-do attitude also have significantly better cardiovascular health, according to [researchers at the University of Illinois](http://news.illinois.edu/news/15/0108optimism%5FRosalbaHernandez.html "undefined"). “Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts,” said lead study author Rosalba Hernandez. “This association remains significant, even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and poor mental health.” The study analyzed the mental health, physical health and levels of optimism of 5,100 adults ranging from 45 to 84 years of age. Heart health scores—based on American Heart Association-approved metrics including blood pressure and body mass index—increased alongside levels of optimism. This isn’t the first study that has linked overall positivity to heart health. In 2012, [Harvard researchers found](http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/really-optimism-reduces-the-risk-of-heart-disease/?%5Fr=0 "undefined") associations between optimism, hope, and overall satisfaction with life with reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. ### See The Best Biology Photos Of The Year  Two Bisons on the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. Lukas Gawenda  A spider at sunset in Predel, Bulgaria. Krasimir Matarov  Parasitoid wasps building clay pots in Borneo, Brunei. Thomas Endlein  Siblings watering newly planted seedlings in Rizal, The Philippines. Ysabel M Victoriano  A leopard in its natural habitat in Karantaka, India. Nagarjun Ram  A farmer protects his family and animals from mosquitos in Gujarat, India. Dimple Pancholi  A tarsier in its natural habitat in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Wolfgang Weinhardt  A plant takes advantage of the available shelter in a dilapidated house in Kolmanskop, Namibia. 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Boris Barath _Read next:_ [_6 Signs You’re Not Working Out Hard Enough_](http://www.time.com/3653968/hard-workout/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://www.time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3663542/optimism-heart-disease/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3663542/optimism-heart-disease/"},"headline":"How Optimism Might Be Good for Your Heart","datePublished":"2015-01-12T14:08:17.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:42:43.083Z","description":"New research links a positive attitude with cardiovascular health","url":"https://time.com/3663542/optimism-heart-disease/","keywords":["Heart Disease","Living","Aging","study","Research","optimism"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laura Stampler","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/heart-disease/","name":"Heart Disease"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3663542/optimism-heart-disease/","name":"How Optimism Might Be Good for Your Heart"}}]}] ```