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Having a positive attitude may help promote longevity in heart patients, a new study suggests.

Researchers also found that heart patients with happy outlooks are more likely to exercise.

The study assessed the moods of 600 ischemic heart disease patients in a Denmark hospital.

The findings revealed that the most positive patients exercised more and were 42 percent less likely to die for any reason during follow-up. The study also found that positive mood and exercise also lowered the risk of heart-related hospitalizations.

Researchers found that exercise narrowed the gay between positive and negative patients. They found that when both groups exercised, death rates between upbeat and sad patients weren't as significant.

Previous studies also revealed that optimistic moods improve heart patients' health.

"We should focus not only on increasing positive attitude in cardiac rehabilitation, but also make sure that patients perform exercise on a regular basis, as exercise is associated with both increased levels of optimism and better health," study author Susanne S. Pedersen said in a news release.

She noted that mood and exercise have a two-way relationship and influences one another.

The findings are published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.