A study suggests being happy and staying positive may help ward off heart disease. US researchers monitored the health of 1,700 people over 10 years, finding the most anxious and depressed were at the highest risk of the disease. <br/><br/>At the start of the study, which was published in the European Heart Journal, participants were assessed for emotions ranging from hostility and anxiousness to joy, enthusiasm and contentment. <br/><br/>They were given a rating on a five-point scale to score their level of positive emotions. By the end of the analysis, some 145 had developed heart disease – fewer than one in 10. But for each rise in the happiness scale there was a 22 per cent lower risk of developing heart disease. <br/><br/>Lead researcher Dr Karina Davidson admitted more research was needed into the link, but said she would still recommend that people try to develop a more positive outlook.