Positive attitude could help you bounce back from illness: Study

A positive attitude on life could help you to bounce back from the challenges of ill health, suggests a new study.

Psychologists say that putting on a brave face works even for serious complaints such as arthritis, diabetes and heart conditions.

The study of Britons aged 50 to 90 found that those with resilient personalities felt better despite their various aches and pains.

Unfortunately, this inner strength takes years to develop and cannot be turned on overnight, according to Dr Gill Windle who led the research at Bangor University in North Wales.

"Resilience is the key but it's probably something which builds up over a lifetime - in some cases because of experiences in childhood," the Daily Express quoted Windle as saying.

Older people were more likely to suffer poor health but tended not to grumble about it.

"Even though they may be suffering, older people are likely to say "Oh, I'm all right', Windle said.