Be Optimistic, Live Longer

Being an optimist will help you live longer.

- Dr Sanjay Teotia

Having an optimistic outlook may add extra years to one's livse. A number of studies have shown that optimists enjoy higher levels of well-being, better sleep, lower stress, and even better cardiovascular health and immune function. Now, a study links being an optimist to a longer life. Looking on the bright side of life could help you live longer. People with greater optimism are more likely to live to the age of eighty or older.

Recent research studies found that on an average, the most optimistic men and women had a 1015 per cent longer lifespan. They also had a 50-70 per cent greater odds of reaching the age of eighty compared to the least optimistic groups. More importantly, the optimists were also more likely than pessimists to live into their 90s. Researchers refer to this as an exceptional longevity, considering the average life span for women in developed countries is about 83 years.

What makes these findings especially impressive is that the results remained even after accounting for other factors known to predict a long life, including education level and economic status, ethnicity, and whether a person suffered from depression or other chronic health conditions.

Optimism is one such psychosocial asset that has the potential to extend the human lifespan. Various studies suggest that they are unclear as to how exactly optimism helps people to live longer. However, they did point to other analysis which suggests that more optimistic people may be able to regulate emotions and behaviour, and bounce back from stressors and difficulties more effectively. It has been seen that optimism is linked to eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, and being less likely to smoke cigarettes, chewing tobacco or consume alcohol. These healthy behaviours are well known to improve heart's health and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease, which is a leading cause of death globally.