Can Anger Harm Your Heart?
Previous studies have hinted at a link between sudden bursts of anger and a heightened risk of heart attacks, the leading cause of death globally. To explore this connection further, researchers from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Yale School of Medicine, St. John’s University, and other institutions embarked on an investigation into the underlying mechanisms.
The Experiment:
The researchers recruited 280 healthy young adults and divided them into four groups:
- Control Group: Participants were tasked with counting aloud for eight minutes to maintain a neutral emotional state.
- Anger Group: Participants were instructed to recall events that evoked anger.
- Sadness Group: Participants were instructed to recall events that evoked sadness.
- Anxiety Group: Participants were instructed to recall events that evoked anxiety.
Before the experiment and periodically over the following 100 minutes, the researchers collected blood samples and measured blood flow and pressure.
The Findings:
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the results suggested that anger might indeed have detrimental effects on the heart by compromising blood vessel function.
Expert Opinion:
Dr. Holly Middlekauff, a cardiologist and professor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, who wasn’t involved in the study, commented on the findings. She suggested that these results could help physicians advise patients with heart disease and anger issues on managing their emotions through activities like yoga, exercise, or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Middlekauff emphasized the importance of the study’s implications, stating that while it’s not widely acknowledged that anger can trigger heart attacks, the study provides a biological basis for this theory. She highlighted the significance of understanding how anger raises blood pressure and compromises vascular health, as it may capture the attention of some patients.
