Want to Live Longer? It's Not That Hard

Dov Michael wrote an informative article on the relationship between optimism and longevity. (Hats off to The Doctor Weighs In.) Optimism provides a mortality advantage. Optimists live longer than pessimists, it seems. Michael writes, “There is real scientific evidence, accruing at an accelerating rate, that optimistic disposition leads to better health; the converse is true for pessimism. “Optimists are twice as likely to be in ideal cardiovascular health, according to a new study led by Rosalba Hernandez, a professor of social work at the University of Illinois.” In recent posts, we’ve explored how loneliness is a killer, as is anger. Resilience is important to longevity, too. The problem is that your doctor can’t do much to make you more optimistic. In fact, sometimes doctors inadvertently do the opposite. They can’t make you a less angry person or a less lonely person. In many ways, your health too important to trust to a doctor.