Studies Find One Thing That Can Improve Health And Extend Life, Except When It Comes To Covid-19 – Forbes

Smiling woman

Theres a lot of doom and gloom these days. Coronavirus cases are surging above surges in many countries. Vaccines are on the horizon, but that horizon is still feeling pretty unreachable. While several pharmaceutical companies have reported excellent outcomes in vaccine trials in large groups of adults, the reality of the challenges ahead, including transport, storage, administration, tiers of who gets it first, and, perhaps most important, willingness of a large percentage of the worlds population to be immunized against Covid-19 infections, puts the light at the end of this seemingly endless dark tunnel even further away.

But cheer up! Help is on the way! President-Elect Biden has told us. Many may find this sentiment to be trite, but some studies have demonstrated that such an outlook may translate into objectively improved health outcomes. Just as depression can be associated with poor outcomes after surgeries, optimism may lead to the opposite. A recent study followed over 103,000 active-duty military men and women over a five-year period. Questionnaires regarding health conditions, depression, sociodemographics, health behaviors, and yes, optimism, were followed, as well as objective measures such as incidence of high blood pressure.

Female veteran facilitates a support group for soldiers.

The study, published this year in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, evaluated for any association between self-reported optimism scores in active-duty young, healthy military personnel (average age 28.9 years) and development of high blood pressure (hypertension). Over the following 3+ years, approximately 15% of the study participants, all with no prior history of hypertension, developed elevated blood pressure. There was a 22% lower likelihood of developing hypertension in those who reported higher optimism scores throughout the study period, regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity. Lower risk of hypertension is a significant factor in lowering risks of heart disease, stroke, and death.

Prior studies have linked higher optimism (or conversely, lower pessimism) on lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, with resultant better health outcomes in both men and women. Higher levels of cortisol, as well as other stress-mediated inflammatory substances, have been linked to hypertension, and, perhaps most relevant today, more significant respiratory response to viral infections.

But a coronavirus infection, in many cases, is not just another viral infection. Far from it, actually. So when it comes to optimism versus pessimism, extremes of either regarding the pandemic itself, concerns regarding exposure risk and degree of infection, and understanding of the potential severity of the disease, are not helpful. The term comparative optimism is the notion that bad things are more likely to happen to others as opposed to oneself. A study out of the U.K., published in Health Expectations, found that the majority of the study subjects questioned felt that, in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, they were not likely to become infected nor critically ill, yet others were at much higher risk of infection and illness.

A study based in Turkey, published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, assessed coronavirus-related stress, optimism, pessimism, and psychological difficulties during the past several months of the pandemic. The authors found a clear relationship between coronavirus-related stress, pessimism, and psychological trauma, even without having known exposure to or personal relationships with those suffering from coronavirus infections.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - 2020/11/28: Shoppers wearing face masks in a crowded Bazaar on the European side ... [+] of Istanbul. (Photo by John Wreford/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

When it comes to most anything outside of the current pandemic, there is objective as well as subjective evidence that a sunnier disposition and positive outlook on life can lead to better health outcomes. But when it comes to the current rage of coronavirus infections, a neutral, leveled approach is perhaps best. The comparative optimism concept of them, not me has likely contributed to poor compliance in health and safety recommendations, adding fuel to the raging fire of Covid-19 illness and death throughout most of our planet. Dread and pessimism, albeit warranted on many days, is leading to higher levels of mental health anguish. We continue to grab on to any inkling of positive news, and are squinting to see a glimmer of light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel. Until the light is a bit brighter, its best to stay measured. And very (very) cautiously optimistic.

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Studies Find One Thing That Can Improve Health And Extend Life, Except When It Comes To Covid-19 - Forbes