Men who take an optimistic view are more likely to benefit from good heart health, new research suggests.
A study conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that men who considered themselves to be less at risk of developing cardiovascular disease experienced three times fewer incidence of heart attack or stroke-related death.
The 15-year research project involved 2,816 adults with no prior history of heart disease between the ages of 35 and 75.
Commenting on the findings, lead author Dr Robert Gramling, assistant professor of Family Medicine and Community and Preventive Medicine, said: "Clearly, holding optimistic perceptions of risk has its advantages for men. It is not clear whether we should seek to disabuse people of optimistic ‘misperceptions’ in pursuit of changing behavior.
"Perhaps we should work on changing behaviors by instilling more confidence in the capacity to prevent having a heart attack, rather than raising fears about having one."
Studies have shown that women suffering a heart attack tend to be older than men and show higher incidence of diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure.
