During February, we are focusing on new research regarding heart health. Our first newsletter was all about developing an optimist attitude.

Did you know that individuals with positive attitudes are more likely to have better cardiovascular health? According to a recent study from the University of Illinois, “Individuals with the highest levels of optimism have twice the odds of being in ideal cardiovascular health compared to their more pessimistic counterparts,” said lead study author Rosalba Hernandez. In 2012, researchers from Harvard also discovered a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke in individuals who were more optimistic, had hope and were overall satisfied with life.

Now, not all of us are naturally happy and upbeat people, but we can chose to change. Trying to change is not going to be easy. First, start with finding something positive in every situation. Slowly, you can retrain your mind to be optimist and improve your overall heart health. After all, your heart is worth it!

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