According to the findings of a recent study carried out by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, having a positive attitude has very benefic effects on one’s health. 

 

The study used data from approximately 100,000 women to draw conclusions. The woman were free from heart diseases or cancer when they joined a hormone therapy trial back 1994. The women, aged between 50 and 74 when the trial began, were filled an opinion poll focused on their expectancies of the trial. According to the study, eight years after the opinion poll was filled, the optimist women were 14% less likely to die from any illness than the pessimist women. Furthermore, the optimistic women were 30% les likely to die from heart disease than the pessimist women were. 

 

Having an optimistic perception on life may also reduce the risk of suffering from other illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and bad habits such as cigarettes. According to the poll’s definitions, optimist women expected good things to happen in their lives, while pessimist women were extremely mistrustful of other people. 

 

The findings of the research were presented at the American Psychosomatic Society’s annual meeting in Chicago. 

 

The women who were the subject of this study joined Women's Health Initiative, the massive national trial known for its conclusions on hormone therapy.