ADSENSE READY
HEALTH - Women who believe that good things will happen, will live longer. That is the result of a new study that seems to confirm the power of positive thinking.
"This study shows that optimism may reduce the risk of death from stroke, respiratory disease, infections and cancer," said Eric Kim, the study's authors.
"People who are optimistic tend to act in ways that are more healthy. Studies show that people who are optimistic, turned out to be more exercise, diet more healthy and quality sleep better," said Kim, a researcher at the department of social sciences and behavioral Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
Kim added that the optimistic attitude can also directly affect biological functions. Research shows that optimism are associated with lower levels of inflammation, levels of lipids (blood fats) that are healthier, and higher antioxidant, Kim said.
"Optimists also proved to be able to apply methods of coping (adapt) a more healthy," he said.
"Summary of more than 50 studies show that when faced with the challenges of life, optimistic people are more receptive to a state that can not be changed, can make plans place to cope with the next challenge, and do not hesitate to seek support from others when needed."
For the study, scientists reviewed the records of 70,000 women who participated in the study from 2004 and 2012.
The researchers also examined the level of optimism and other factors that may affect the results, such as race, high blood pressure, diet and physical activity.
Overall, the risk of dying from the disease that analyzed in this study was nearly 30 percent lower for women who are the most optimistic, compared with women who had the lowest levels of optomisme.
For women who are the most optimistic, for example, the risk of cancer death was 16 percent lower; the risk of death from heart disease, stroke or respiratory diseases by almost 40 per cent lower; and the risk of death from infection is 52 percent lower.
In this study, the relationship between optimism and life span, do not show causality.
