Optimism is good for you!

Optimism has been linked to lower cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease death rates, lower rates of heart attack, slower progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis (blockages from plaque), better outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and fewer re-stenoses after stents and angioplasty in the coronary arteries.  Even risk factors are affected by optimism, as seen in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).  Those in the highest quartile of optimism were more likely to have intermediate and ideal cardiovascular health when compared to the least optimistic group.  Individual cardiovascular health metrics of diet, physical activity, body mass index, smoking, blood sugar and total cholesterol contributed to the overall association.   In addition, also in MESA, several inflammatory factors (which are associated with cardiovascular risk) were found to be higher in patients who scored higher on pessimism scales, although these are likely related to other cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes.

References:
Health Behavior and Policy Review, Jan 2015
Psychosocial Medicine, February 2010