Positive Psychological well-being and Health in Patients With Heart Disease: A Brief Review

Abstract

Poor psychological health (e.g., depression and anxiety) is prospectively associated with adverse cardiac outcomes. In contrast, there is increasing evidence that positive psychological constructs like happiness, optimism and gratitude are independently and prospectively linked to better health behaviors and superior cardiac prognosis in people with and without heart disease. However, a critical question is whether such positive states and traits are modifiable. Recent studies of systematic positive psychology interventions designed to promote well-being have shown promise in patients with heart disease, and more data are needed to learn whether these interventions are effective and whether they can be broadly applied to impact public health.

Happiness of the oldest-old men is associated with fruit and vegetable intakes

“…microbiota [5]. Fruits and vegetables also contain abundant amounts of phytochemicals such as carotenoids and flavonoids which are important for health [5,16], and abundant fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with better mood and reduced risk of depression [4]. Although fish intake has been associated with reduced risk of depression and positive psychological well-being in some studies, it was not associated with happiness in our participants [3].…”

“…Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of various micronutrients such as vitamins A, C, folates, and other B-vitamins along with soluble fiber that are essential for the normal brain function and gut Cereals, bread, pasta n.a n.a n.a. microbiota [5]. Fruits and vegetables also contain abundant amounts of phytochemicals such as carotenoids and flavonoids which are important for health [5,16], and abundant fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with better mood and reduced risk of depression [4].…”

“…Happiness has been associated with various positive health outcomes [1]. Positive affect, optimism, and happiness can have beneficial effects on cardiovascular and immune systems, influence hormones, and inflammation [2][3][4][5]. Positive psychological characteristics have also been associated with longer telomere length [6].…”

Physical Activity, Well‐Being, and the Basic Psychological Needs: Adopting the SDT Model of Eudaimonia in a Post‐Cardiac Rehabilitation Sample

“…These eudaimonia‐promoting interventions could complement a physical activity program because they have been shown to be effective at increasing well‐being while being easy to administer and have low participant burden (Dubois et al., ). The majority of these eudaimonia interventions exist in non‐clinical populations (Dubois et al., ), and recent evidence indicates that they may be applicable to cardiac rehabilitation populations (Huffman, Legler, & Boehm, ). Cardiac rehabilitation programs could integrate these types of eudaimonia promoting programs to focus on enhancing well‐being alongside existing approaches aimed at reducing ill‐being.…”

Sense of coherence and psychological well-being in cardiac patients: Is the association mediated by self-efficacy?

“…A large deal of research concentrates on psychological functioning of cardiac patients [1][2][3]. Among the most popular psychological con-structs taken into account one may find sense of coherence, psychological well-being and self-efficacy.…”