Dick Van Dyke, the legendary American actor and comedian who starred in classics like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, will celebrate his 100th birthday on December 13. The beloved actor attributes his remarkable longevity to his positive outlook on life and the fact that he never loses his temper.
While longevity is of course dependent on many factors, including genetics and lifestyle, there is some truth to Van Dyke’s claims. Numerous studies have shown that maintaining low stress levels and cultivating a positive, optimistic attitude is correlated with longevity.
For example, in the early 1930s, researchers asked a group of 678 novices – mostly around 22 years old – to write an autobiography upon entering a convent.
Six decades later, researchers analyzed their work. They also compared their analyzes with women’s long-term health outcomes.
Researchers found that women who expressed more positive emotions earlier in life (such as saying they felt grateful rather than resentful) lived an average of ten years longer than those whose writings tended to be more negative.
A study in the United Kingdom also found that the most optimistic people lived between 11% and 15% longer than the most pessimistic people.
And in 2022, a study of nearly 160,000 women of diverse ethnic backgrounds found that those who reported being more optimistic were more likely to live to age 90 than those who were pessimistic.
A possible explanation for these results has to do with the effects of anger on our hearts.
People who tend to have a more positive or optimistic outlook on life seem to manage or control anger better. This is important because anger can have a number of significant effects on the body.
Anger triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol, the body’s main stress hormones, especially in men. Even brief outbursts of anger can lead to a decline in cardiovascular health.
The added strain that chronic stress and anger places on the cardiovascular system has been linked to an increased risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These diseases are responsible for approximately 75% of premature deaths. Although stress and anger are not the only causes of these illnesses, they contribute significantly.
So when Dick Van Dyke says he doesn’t get angry, that could very well be one of the reasons for his longevity.
There is also a deeper cellular explanation behind the influence of stress on longevity, which concerns our telomeres. These are protective structures located at the ends of our chromosomes (the packets of DNA information present in our cells).
In young, healthy cells, telomeres remain long and strong. But as we age, telomeres gradually shorten and wear away. When they become too worn out, cells have difficulty dividing and repairing themselves. This is one of the reasons why aging accelerates over time.
Stress has been linked to faster shortening of telomeres, which hinders communication and cell renewal. In other words, stress-inducing emotions, like uncontrolled anger, can accelerate the aging process.
One study also found that meditation, which can help reduce stress, is positively associated with telomere length. Therefore, better anger management can contribute to a longer life.
Additionally, optimists appear more likely to adopt healthy habits, such as regular exercise or a healthy diet, which may further contribute to health and longevity by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Even Dick Van Dyke tries to exercise at least three times a week.
If you want to live as long as Dick Van Dyke, there are things you can do to control your stress and anger levels.
Contrary to popular belief, trying to “release” anger by punching a punching bag, screaming into a pillow, or running until the feeling goes away does not help. These actions keep the body in a constant state of alert, which impacts the cardiovascular system and can prolong the stress response.
A calmer approach works better. Breathing more slowly, counting your breaths, or using other relaxation techniques (like yoga) can help calm your cardiovascular system rather than straining it. Over time, this reduces the strain on your heart, which can help you live longer. It’s important that you try this whenever you feel particularly stressed or angry.
You can also increase positive emotions by trying to be more present in your everyday life. By being present, you become more aware of what is happening around you and within you.
For example, if you’re planning to go out to dinner with your partner, try to be more intentional in how you do it. This could include reserving a restaurant that you both really like or asking to eat somewhere quieter so you have more time to talk. Slow down and try to pay attention to the present moment, absorbing as much as possible all the sensations you are experiencing.
You can also increase positive emotions by setting aside time for play. For adults, play means doing something simply because it feels good – not because it has a specific purpose. Playing will give you a boost of positive emotions, which can benefit your health.
Dick Van Dyke’s advice may be correct. Although we can’t control everything that impacts our health, learning to manage anger and making space for a more positive outlook on life can help promote well-being and longevity.
*Jolanta Burke is an Associate Professor at the Center for Positive Health Sciences at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin.
*This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original.
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