If you have a family history of heart disease in the family, don’t think you’re doomed to suffer the same consequences. To dodge the bullet, the answer may lie in maintaining a happy disposition.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, having a cheerful temperament is related to a reduced risk of coronary artery disease in people with a family history.
Researchers gathered 1,483 healthy siblings of individuals who had heart disease. They were divided into three separate groups based on their likelihood of getting cardiovascular disease. They were all then tested for mood, anxiety, energy level, concern about health, and life satisfaction.
After about 12 years, a follow-up was conducted on these individuals. The results, according to Runner’s World, were that people with higher baseline scores in overall well-being had a 33% lower risk of developing symptomatic heart disease. People in the group at highest risk for cardiovascular illness had a 50% reduction in risk if they had high baseline well-being scores.