Be happy - it seems to be good for your heart.. Scientists have long known that type A individuals (nervous, and easily excitable), as well as people who are constantly unhappy, worried, or depressed, have a high risk of heart attack.

Now, a study at Harvard on the opposite side of this type of psyche led to the conclusion that if a person is in a joyful and optimistic mood, then this can help him protect himself from a heart attack.

Instead of focusing only on how to reduce the risk of a heart attack, “it can be useful if we pay attention to how we can maintain a positive outlook on things,” says study leader Julia Boem of Harvard Health School.

Bohem has studied dozens of studies examining the effects of a positive worldview - defined by various psychological dimensions - on heart health.. Optimism seems to be a key factor, as a number of studies show that optimists, compared with pessimists, have halved the risk of their first heart attack, she says..

Why? Previous work shows that stress associated with negative psychological traits can lead to damage to arteries and the heart itself..

Bohem found that people with a better sense of well-being tend to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.. They are also more likely to exercise, eat right, do not lack sleep, and avoid smoking.. However, she warns that more research is needed to determine whether a positive worldview makes people healthier, or whether a healthy lifestyle generates positive feelings..

A study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was published in the journal Psychological Bulletin.

More research, of course, is needed, but having a connection between psychological and physical well-being makes sense, says Dr. Elizabeth Jackson of the University of Michigan and American College of Cardiology, who were not involved in this study.. She noticed that among her own patients with heart diseases, those who feel that they are in some way in control of their lives and who are engaged in their own health show better results..

And what about those who are pessimistic in nature? " We have no magic pills, "

Some studies show that it’s enough to ask a person to smile to improve his mood, Bohem notes, although it’s unclear how long this improvement lasts..

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