Positive Psychological Well-Being and Cardiovascular Disease JACC Health Promotion Series (Reprinted from J Am Coll Cardiol, vol 72, pg 1382-96, 2018)

Facets of positive psychologica well-being, such as optimism, have been identified as positive health assets because they are prospectively associated with the 7 metrics of cardiovascular health (CVH) and improved outcomes related to cardiovascular disease. Connections between psychological well-being and cardiovascular conditions may be mediated through biological, behavioral, and psychosocial pathways. Individual-Level interventions, such as mindfulness based programs and positive psychological interventions, have shown promise for modifying psychological well-being. Further, orkplaces are using well-being-focused interventions to promote employee CVH, and these interventions represent a potential model. for expanding psychological well-being programs to communities and societies. Given the relevance of psychological well-being to promoting CVH, this review outlines clinical recommendations to assess and promote wellbeing in encounters with patients. Finally, a research agenda is proposed. Additional prospective observational studies are needed to understand mechanisms underlying the connection between psychological well-being and cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, rigorous intervention trials are needed to assess whether psychological well-being-promoting programs can improve cardiovascular outcomes. (C) 2018 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.