Does gratitude or optimism help your health and longevity?
Greater optimism is linked, across several large, long-running studies, to a considerably lower risk of dying from heart and blood vessel disease and a greater chance of ageing healthily. These are associations, not proven cause and effect, but the pattern is strikingly consistent and large enough in magnitude to take seriously.
Optimism is linked to a lower chance of dying early in several large studies. Among 941 older Dutch adults followed for more than nine years, the most optimistic people were 45% less likely to die than the most pessimistic. For deaths from heart and blood vessel disease, that difference was as large as 77%.
A separate study of 545 older men found that the most optimistic men were 55% less likely to die from heart and blood vessel disease. The same pattern appeared among more than 70,000 women: greater optimism was associated with fewer deaths from cancer, heart disease, and stroke. In addition, among a group of more than 33,000 optimistic women, there was also a 23% greater chance of ageing healthily, meaning living longer while keeping physical function intact.
Notably, the absence of pessimism turned out to be a better predictor of heart-friendly behaviour than the presence of optimism. Optimism and pessimism are therefore not simply two sides of the same coin.
Gratitude exercises, such as writing down weekly what you are grateful for, improve your sense of wellbeing compared with people who do not do this. The effect on physical complaints is far less convincing. A study of 76 women found no direct effect of six weeks of gratitude exercises on levels of inflammation markers in the blood.
All the evidence on optimism and longevity comes from long-term observation of groups of people, not from experiments in which someone was taught to become more optimistic. It is therefore not a proven cause-and-effect relationship. But the pattern is strikingly consistent across several large studies.
All claims are based on the supplied abstracts. The figures 45%, 77%, and 55% come directly from people followed for years in large studies. The 23% for healthy ageing comes from one of those studies. The 9% figure for overall death risk in women, after accounting for other factors, also comes from a large long-term study, and the finding is described in general terms rather than using an earlier, less adjusted figure.
Does having a pet help your health and longevity?
Several large analyses show that people with heart disease who own a pet run into new problems less often. For older adults there are also positive links with mental health and staying active.
Does regular sauna use help you live longer?
Large studies show that regular sauna use is linked to better heart health and lower death rates. The effects on blood pressure and exercise capacity in heart failure are the best supported.
Does taking omega-3 help you stay healthy for longer?
Omega-3 reliably lowers blood fats, but the evidence that it helps you live longer or stay healthier is limited. If you already have heart disease, discuss with your doctor whether omega-3 is a worthwhile addition to your treatment.
Does CoQ10 help your heart or your energy levels?
CoQ10 may be worthwhile in heart failure: several studies show fewer deaths and fewer hospital admissions. Discuss its use with your doctor if you have heart failure or take statins.
What does your vascular age tell you about your health?
A high vascular age on the measurement is a serious signal: your risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and premature death is considerably elevated. Discuss it with your doctor, as there are lifestyle and medication options to slow arterial stiffness.
Do you live longer if you eat more salt?
Eating more salt does not lead to a longer life. At the individual level, it demonstrably increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and salt restriction lowers blood pressure and the risk of premature death.