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Certain Emotion Leads To Elevated Heart Risks

New research highlights the detrimental impact of chronic anger on heart health, suggesting that persistent anger could lead to long-term cardiovascular issues. Dr. Daichi Shimbo, a cardiologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, who led the study, explained that individuals prone to frequent anger may experience ongoing damage to their blood vessels.

The study involved experiments monitoring blood vessel activity in individuals experiencing anger, anxiety, sadness, or neutral emotions. It revealed that anger led to a temporary inability of blood vessels to dilate properly, a crucial function for cardiovascular health. These effects persisted for up to 40 minutes after the angry episode ended. Laurie Friedman Donze, a psychologist and program officer at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which funded the study, emphasized the significance of these findings in understanding how anger affects heart health.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, included 280 healthy adults from New York City, all under 74 years old with no history of heart disease or major risk factors. Participants underwent monitoring of blood vessel changes while engaging in emotional tasks inducing anger, sadness, anxiety, or neutral feelings.

The research highlighted that anger impaired healthy blood vessel dilation, a phenomenon not observed with anxiety or sadness. This impairment in dilation is often a precursor to atherosclerosis, a condition where fat accumulates on artery walls, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Dr. Shimbo emphasized the need for further research to understand how anger specifically affects blood vessel function, suggesting possible mechanisms involving the autonomic nervous system, stress hormones, or arterial inflammation. Additionally, exploring whether positive emotions such as joy or laughter can counteract the negative effects of anger on the heart warrants further investigation.

In the meantime, the study underscores the importance of anger management for both mental and physical well-being. Strategies such as exercise, yoga, deep breathing, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are recommended to promote a healthier approach to managing anger and reducing its impact on heart health.