Anger Could Lead to Blood Vessel Dysfunction, Increase Risk of Heart Problems [Study]

Anger leaves one feeling miserable and it's not healthy, literally. There have been studies suggesting that anger increases one's risk of heart problems.

Anger Increases Risk of Heart Disease

A new study by a team of researchers from the United States revealed that even brief provocations of anger can affect the lining of blood vessels. It supports previous studies suggesting that this particular emotion can increase one's risk of heart disease.

A total of 280 individuals in good health were randomized to three eight-minute tasks and control activities. Blood samples from the individuals were used to examine their cell linings before and after the task.

The exercises were reading a sequence of gloomy lines to induce melancholy, recalling a memory that sparked anger, recalling a memory that triggered anxiety, or continually counting to 100 (to maintain emotional neutrality).

Impaired blood vessel dilatation, or a constriction of the blood vessels that prevents blood flow throughout the body, was observed with the anger job (and only the anger task) three minutes after it was finished, but it disappeared within 40 minutes.

Although experiencing and expressing anger can be helpful, new research indicates that it may also raise the risk of heart issues by limiting blood flow, particularly in individuals who already have cardiovascular disease risk factors and when the emotion is felt frequently or chronically. The next stage is to examine the relationship between the emotion and the biological outcome in further detail.

"We saw that evoking an angered state led to blood vessel dysfunction, though we don't yet understand what may cause these changes," said Daichi Shimbo, a professor of medicine at Columbia University.

Shimbo added that research into the underlying causes of the relationship between anger and blood vessel dysfunction may be able to help develop targeted interventions for those who are more vulnerable to cardiovascular problems.

ALSO READ: Anger Management: Psychologists Share Surprising Way to Eliminate Your Fury

Anger Management

Another study examined the impact of venting when one is upset. Because it increases one's physiological arousal, the researchers discovered that it has no beneficial effects.

Although expressing anger can make you feel fulfilled and less stressed, it only works temporarily. Venting, like the physical acts of rage such as punching and kicking, increases your body's arousal. According to an expert, raising your physical arousal in any way is ineffective for reducing anger.

Elevations in heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, muscle tension, and other pertinent indications indicate increased physiological arousal. People who respond in this way prepare their bodies for action. In short, it triggers the body's "fight or flight" response, where the adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

A team of psychologists from Nagoya University in Japan discovered a simple way to eliminate anger: writing down the reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and throwing it away. In their experiment, the researchers noticed that the subjects' anger nearly disappeared after doing the activity. They only thought it would reduce animosity, but the results were better.