In several new studies, chronic worriers and those gripped by psychological stress were three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with heart problems, and have a 53 percent increased risk for high blood pressure and stroke.
Nationally known cardiologist and medical researcher Jerome E. Granato, MD, says while worrying about the economy--a situation over which you have no control--is bad for your health, being optimistic might give your heart a boost. He cites a recent study in Britain, which found that optimistic people had three times lower incidence of death from heart attacks and strokes than their pessimistic counterparts.
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