UPDATES:YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE HEART IF YOU WANT TO GET WELL

Coronary bypass surgery patients who were optimistic about a positive outcome were more likely to have their wishes fulfilled.

Researchers found that optimistic patients were 50 per cent less likely than pessimistic patients to need further surgery or hospital stays.

The research team from Pittsburgh studied 283 heart patients for depression, neuroticism and self esteem (Arch Intern Med, 1999; 159: 829-35).