Latest news with #pessimism
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Sense of hope is key for heart patients, study finds
Heart patients who are pessimistic about their condition have an increased risk of dying or suffering a heart attack, according to academics who studied people undergoing treatment at an acute research was commissioned by the British Heart Foundation and presented to the British Cardiovascular Society."Our systematic review suggests that hopelessness could increase people's risk of death," said Dr Alexander Montasem, a senior lecturer in researchers, from the University of Liverpool and Lancashire Cardiac Centre, noted that one previous study of men with a pre-existing cardiovascular condition hopelessness was linked to a six-fold higher risk of death. The researchers reviewed data from 12 studies involving 5,540 patients diagnosed with various different cardiovascular diseases. Having less hope was associated with an increased risk of a first heart attack in people with no previous history of angina, even taking into account other risk factors like age, perceived health status, depression and socioeconomic risk factors. 'Benefits of support' The review showed that more hope was linked to reduced cardiovascular symptoms like angina and post-stroke Montasem said: "For many people, living with cardiovascular disease can be a difficult experience. Patients often struggle with debilitating symptoms as well as anxiety about the future."Mental health support could be very beneficial for a wide range of people with heart problems."One study found that higher levels of hope protected women against experiencing angina – pain or discomfort in the chest often caused by coronary heart disease. In a study of stroke patients of both sexes, greater hope was strongly linked to reduced levels of post-stroke studies included psychological data, which showed that more hope was linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety, and improved resilience and quality of data also indicated possible reasons for the reduced risk seen in people with more hope were that they also showed greater levels of self-care and were less likely to "skip" report's authors now want to understand whether it is possible to boost patients' hope, for example by introducing specialist therapy, or chaplaincy support while in hospital, which could help improve health and lower death rates in this at-risk group. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fertility clinic bombing in Palm Springs sheds light on nihilistic violence
The bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs last weekend points toward a dark philosophical dead-end. The alleged perpetrator seemed to have a misanthropic, anti-life worldview. According to a report by the LA Times, a website that may be linked to the bomber advocated for 'sterilizing this planet of the disease of life.' A speaker there declared, 'I'm angry that I exist.' The fertility clinic was likely targeted as a symbol of birth, life and hope. The root problem here has been described as 'anti-life nihilism.' A more familiar term may be pessimism. The 19th Century pessimist, Arthur Schopenhauer, said life was an 'unprofitable episode disturbing the blessed calm of non-existence.' He suggested it would be a favor to the next generation to 'spare it the burden of existence.' It is easy to imagine this leading to violence. The Washington Post warns of a rash of nihilistic violence, claiming that 'nihilistic extremists are often motivated by a philosophy that seeks to hasten the world's downfall.' If you think existence is rotten, you may want to annihilate it all. Those who hate life may view life-affirming people with bitter animosity. But nihilism is not necessarily violent. If life stinks, indifference is as likely as hatred. Disillusionment and despair often give birth to apathy and listlessness. If nothing matters, then why bother with anything? Various solutions to nihilism have been proposed. Religion is an obvious one. The loving God of Christianity gives meaning and purpose to life despite suffering, sadness and death. In Buddhism, salvation is found in the insight that suffering is caused by attachment to the ever-changing world of experience. A different approach can be found in art, science and humanism, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy. Greek philosophers argued that human virtue and wisdom were intrinsically valuable, despite the indifference of nature and the gods. Modernity builds upon this. Scientific knowledge has value in itself. It is amazing to understand the immensity of the cosmos, the history of humanity or the inner workings of cells and atoms. The quest for knowledge makes life worth living. There is always something new to discover and more wisdom to be gleaned. The nihilist gives up on knowledge. One cure is to rediscover the joy of curiosity. Art also has intrinsic value. We can delight in the music of Mozart, the lyrics of Bob Dylan or the architectural wonders of the world. We can also actively create art. The fun of drawing, singing or writing is freely available. A nihilist might complain that nothing human lasts. But the energy of the creative imagination is an antidote to that complaint. We can also find value in friendship and love, as well as in natural beauty, physical pleasure or athletic achievement. Social life and purposeful activity provide deep wells of meaning. When nihilists reject life, they reject these basic goods. This indicates a broken spirit lacking in vision, compassion and ambition. The great American philosopher William James offered a cure for pessimism in an essay entitled 'Is Life Worth Living?' He said that pessimism results from too much thinking and not enough active responsibility. The gloomy, world-weary nihilist suffers from what James called 'speculative melancholy.' The solution is to stop whining, get out in the world and get to work. We have a choice in the matter of meaning. If life seems meaningless, remember that you are free to create something better. As James said, 'Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.' As we celebrate Memorial Day, we discover another remedy for nihilism. We can learn from the commitment of those who sacrifice their lives in service to others. We all die. But this gloomy fact need not undermine the will to live. Rather, faith in life is renewed by observing that the best lives are lived in uplifting others. Pessimism and nihilism are perennial problems. They indicate a deep challenge for the human spirit. We are the only beings in the universe — as far as we know — who wonder whether life is worth living. If we understand our unique capacity to ask this question, we may also realize how wonderful it is to exist as beings who think, question and create. Andrew Fiala is the interim department chair of Fresno State University's Department of Philosophy.
