There has long been a belief that a connection exists between anger and heart disease. Now, research has provided us with definitive evidence that there is a very real link between stress and emotion on the body’s entire cardiovascular system.
While experts do not believe that moderate amounts of anger take any kind of negative toll on our health, they do believe that explosive bouts of anger, as well as high levels of intense anger, put us at a significant risk of developing heart disease.
Science behind the theory
Our fight-or-flight response is automatically triggered whenever we experience negative feelings. When these stress responses become activated, the body releases neurochemicals that are designed to help us deal with a pending crisis. They are not intended, however, to be released into our systems on a regular basis.
When these neurochemicals are released, they can damage the body in a number of ways. Stress hormones, for example, tend to speed up the development of atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries. In addition, heart rhythm and the electrical impulses of the heart can create cardiovascular disturbances that are quite dangerous.
We have certainly all heard that stress is bad for our health, and scientific research now tells us that it goes beyond the effects previously mentioned. When we experience stress, the hormones that are released can lead to the development of increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). The presence of this substance, particularly at regular intervals over time, can lead to heart disease in otherwise healthy people. It is also linked to atherosclerosis.
Controlling your emotions
In many people, anger that is uncontrolled tends to lead to the development of other health problems such as depression or poor health due to bad dietary habits and lack of exercise.
One of the most important keys to learning to control anger is learning how to spot the signs that you are about to lose your temper. For some people, taking a brief few seconds to count to 10, taking a deep breath, or simply walking away can help to defuse a potential angry outburst. For others, the best course of action may be to see a therapist to get help managing your emotions that tend to get out of control.
Exercise is not only a great way to keep your body healthy; it is also an excellent outlet for stress and anger. If you do not think that you have the time to exercise regularly, experts recommend that you figure out a way to make the time. Whether this means getting up earlier in the morning, or taking an hour for yourself at the end of the day, it is important for your overall health to exercise at least three or four times a week.
In addition, try asking yourself if the issue is really worth getting so worked up about when you start getting angry. Though it may be upsetting to you at the present time, ask yourself if this particular issue is really going to matter next week, next year, or five years from now. In the grand scheme of things, very few issues are worth getting angry over when compared to the importance of maintaining your good health.
By Lisa Pecos