What Kind of Personality Do You Have?

I am a person who believes that ones personality can effect their health.  I have been known to make statements like "no wonder they had a heart attack, they are always worrying about the smallest thing and making them big things."  Another thing I've said is, "it doesn't surprise me they have cancer, they take life way too seriously, and stress is so bad for the body. "  I also believe that people who work themselves all the time, and never stop to take care of themselves properly are also at a high risk of health problems.  I know that health problems are not always linked to lack of excercise or bad eating habits, or smoking, etc.  However, I do still think that an individuals personality traits can cause them to do some of these unhealthy things that can lead to bigger medical issues.

This week I ran across an article online that talked about all those things that I think about.  I also have noted several things from personal experience since I have had the opportunity to work in the medical field.  It also made me stop and think about how I act myself.  I know that I do tend to stress out about things that I could just let be.  School is my big one.  I am so worried and wrapped up in getting a perfect grade that I think it causes me to get a bad grade at times.

The article I read states that people with a hostile (type A) personality are at a higher risk for heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, and psychological issues.  Many times hostile people tend to eat and smoke more and excercise less, which puts them at a higher risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.  http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/2.  People like this can also tend to be impulsive, which could lead to bad choices and decisions.  If a person can get counselling, these personalities can suffer less severe side effects from what their personality trait brings them.  Also practicing things like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can also help calm one.

The next trait is the relaxed trait (type B) personality.  These individuals seem to take life as it comes at them, and just go with flow.  A person like this is less likely to have heart disease issues.  They say that lower anxiety also strengthens the immune system.  Apparantly my high anxiety that I have had ever since I've started classes must surely account to why I have been sick ever since I started school.  People that are more relaxed are also less likely to suffer from gastro-intestinal issues. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/4.

People who are outgoing are also proven to have lower stress levels.  A 2009 study published in Perspectives In Psychological Science say that mingling with others leads to improved coping skills and healthy behavior.  This can go beyond medical and just be positive influence.  For example, if you begin working out and eating healthy, a group of your friends may have the same desire. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/5

Type C Personality:  The people pleaser.  These people are known to need to be pushed sometimes.  If they are having a medical issue, they seem to want to ignore it and just complain about it, hoping that someone else will hear about it, and take it in their hands to get something done about it. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/6.  They also seem to be so passive at times that it gives them a somewhat negative attitude.

Distressed people or Type D individuals seem to notice nothing but negative.  People with a negative attitude are much more likely to be substance abusers or overeaters.  http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/7.  All of those issues can of course lead to other medical issues such as heart disease, diabetes risks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, liver problems, as well as others I may not know about it. If you feel badly, you are more likely to make yourself better by justifying things such as substance abuse or overeating.

Optimists are much more likely to live longer than a pessimist.  http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/slideshows/how-your-personality-affects-your-health/8.  An optimists is going to value life more and of course they will if they are looking at the glass half full rather than half empty.  A pessimist is defintely going to be more likely to suffer from depression due to their outlook on life.  However, there is a line that should be drawn with optimists.  Someone shouldn't be so optimistic that they feel invincible to the reality of life.

Now, I have to just figure out for sure which one of these categories I fall in to, so I can be more aware that I am coping with life in the best way possible, so I can live the healthiest life possible.