People who expect good things to happen in the future are more likely than less-optimistic peers to survive the decades following a first heart attack, a study in Israel suggests.
The results don't prove that optimism extends life, but doctors should nevertheless consider including optimism training in patients' rehabilitation after heart attacks, the study team writes in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
“It is important to note that optimism is not simply a rosy glow over the world; in contrast, optimists are more likely to acknowledge risks and plan how to cope with them,” senior author Yariv Gerber said by email.
