Can Anger Harm Your Heart?
By Karen Heslop
Anger is a natural response to an irritating situation but can it cause physical harm when it goes too far? Studies suggest that anger causes changes in the body can then affect the heart negatively. Let's look at what these changes are and what they have to do with your heart.
Stress hormones flood yours system - When you're angry, stress hormones like adrenaline flood your body. These hormones increase your heart rate, which can be dangerous for persons who already have heart-related illnesses. On top of that, the hormones increase blood clotting activities. If you already have narrowed arteries, blood clots could lead to a significant cardiac event.
It increases your risk of a cardiac event - According to some recent research, persons who had an angry outburst were slightly more at risk for a cardiac event within two hours. In this case, a cardiac event includes strokes, heart attacks, risky heart rhythms, or chest pain (angina).
There's an increase in blood pressure - An increase in blood pressure generally goes hand in hand with the stress hormones in the system. The most obvious effect of this increase is the red face flush that persons get when angry. It can also cause shallow breathing. All those effects can work together to cause physical illness.
Digestion slows down - When you get angry, your body kicks into "fight or flight" mode. It starts to operate as if there's a threat and so prioritizes certain bodily functions. Unfortunately, digestion doesn't count as being essential during that time. An interruption in digestion may result in an upset stomach or even cause slight damage to your digestive system.
How Do These Changes Affect Your Heart?
Most the changes listed above are temporary and your body will return to normal once you've calmed down. However, long term changes can occur if there is a pattern of anger. If your body experiences the effects of these outbursts consistently, it's likely that there will be permanent damage or a significant cardiac event.
To prevent this, it's best to research and practice anger management techniques that will teach you how to properly channel your anger. In some cases, therapists are a great help in getting to the root of the problem and charting the way forward.
As mentioned before, it's normal to get angry. It's not normal to become physically ill because your anger has gotten out of control. Keep yourself healthy by assessing your current anger responses and taking advantage of any resources that are available.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Roswell, Ga.