How Negative Emotions Affect Health and Longevity
In our modern lives, full of stress, worries and problems, we often overlook our emotions and their impact on our health. But many of us suspect that constant feelings of stress, aggression and pessimism can lead to serious illness, including heart problems and even death. On the other hand, we know that optimists and positive people tend to live longer and happier lives.
But despite all this, many of us don’t attach much importance to the effect of our emotional state on our health and longevity. This may be due to a lack of concrete data on the importance of maintaining a positive emotional state and avoiding negative emotions. However, today we will look at the results of a recent study that shows the importance of positive emotions and their impact on health and longevity. We will look at what negative emotions and states can affect our health.
How Emotions Affect Our Health: Results of a New Study
The American Heart Association has published a study in the journal Circulation that represents a large-scale meta-analysis combining several huge studies involving millions of people. The results of the study revealed the impact of different emotions on a person’s health.
Chronic stress is one of the main factors affecting a person’s health. The study showed that people who live with chronic stress have a 27-40% greater risk of coronary artery disease. This means that such people are more prone to various heart diseases, including myocardial infarction. Loneliness and social isolation have also proven to be strong risk factors. People who suffer from loneliness are 50 percent more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and strokes.
Chronic anxiety and depression are also associated with adverse health outcomes. People who suffer from anxiety disorders are 40 percent more likely to die from various causes, including cardiovascular disease. People suffering from depression are 35% more likely to develop coronary artery disease and 45% more likely to develop strokes.
These results underscore the importance of managing emotions to a person’s health and well-being. Regular measures to reduce stress, social isolation, anxiety and depression can help reduce the risk of various heart diseases and improve overall health.
The Reasons for These Results
Research shows that constant activation of the sympathetic nervous system and suppression of the parasympathetic nervous system can lead to impaired vascular elasticity, increased vascular stiffness and the development of inflammatory disease. Some scientists have linked chronic inflammation in the kidneys to the appearance of high blood pressure.
Interestingly, studies show the influence of feelings such as chronic aggression and anger on the risk of cardiovascular disease. Angry and aggressive people who do not have cardiovascular disease have a 19% higher risk of developing it, and those who already have cardiovascular disease have a 24% higher risk of various fatal outcomes of these diseases.
In addition, these people have the highest incidence of developing cardiovascular disease with poor outcomes after two-hour outbursts of aggression and rage. These findings underscore the importance of managing feelings and stress in maintaining cardiovascular health.
What’s the Situation with Optimists?
Studies show that optimistic people have better health and a lower risk of death. Optimism is associated with a more active parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxing and repairing the body, and reduces the stress levels associated with sympathetic nervous system activation.
Optimists often have healthier lifestyles, as they take more care of their health and follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle. They exercise more often, consume less alcohol and smoke fewer cigarettes, which helps strengthen the immune system and prevent cardiovascular disease.
In addition to optimism, purpose in life also has a significant impact on a person’s health. People who have some purpose in life have a lower risk of various diseases, including cardiovascular disease, and live longer. Studies also show that people who have a clearly defined purpose in life are more motivated to achieve it and are more confident in coping with life’s challenges, which also contributes to better health.
Statistics show that optimists have a 14% lower risk of dying from any cause of death compared to pessimists. Moreover, optimists have a 35% lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart attack and stroke. Interestingly, optimists are also 50% more likely to live to age 85 or longer while maintaining their clear minds and good health. This may be because optimists tend to be more active and health-conscious than pessimists.
It is also important to have a goal in life. If a person has a definite goal in life, it can reduce the risk of death from all causes by 17%, including cardiovascular disease. Studies show that people with clear life goals usually have better psychological well-being and cope better with stress, which can contribute to good health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, research shows that we have a huge impact on our health. We can reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease and death from various causes if we are optimistic, have purpose in life and are not socially isolated. It is also important to avoid chronic aggression and anger, which can lead to serious health consequences. Be healthy and happy, take care of yourself and your health!