A study at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine followed 1,337 male medical students for 36 years after graduation. They found that students who became angry quickly under stress were 3 times more likely to develop early heart disease and 5 times more likely to have an early heart attack. Two other studies by the Harvard School of Medicine also identified anger as a risk factor for heart attack. The first involved 1,305 men, mean age 62, who were asked questions designed to determine their level and frequency of anger. The men were tested in 1986 and followed for 10 years. Men that scored higher on the anger scale were 3 times more likely to suffer a heart attack. Another study asked 1,122 men and 501 women who had a heart attack questions to determine if they were angry prior to their heart attack. The study determined that a heart attack was 2.3 times more likely in the 2 hours following moderate to intense anger.

These studies appear to demonstrate 2 points. First, repeated anger at a young age increases the risk of heart disease later in life. Second, anger at older age increases the risk of a heart attack. The exact reasons for these increases in risk are not known but they are thought to result from increased levels of cholesterol and hormones known as catecholamines that are released into the bloodstream when you are angry. Although women have not been tested to as great a degree as men, researchers feel it is safe to assume that anger will likewise increase heart disease and heart attacks in women. Past studies on type A personalities have not shown a connection with heart disease. The researchers who conducted the studies noted above feel that this was because the studies did not measure anger. Anger is a distinct unpleasant emotional state ranging in intensity from mild irritation or annoyance to rage and fury.

People who tend to react to stress with anger often rationalize their anger by believing that it is better to get these feelings off their chest. This has not proven to be helpful, as confirmed by the studies. Other people feel that holding their anger back is a healthier way to deal with their anger, but bottling up angry feelings does nothing to relieve stress. The real answer is to learn how not to get angry in the first place. Try to develop a longer fuse before you get angry. Try to identify the circumstances that are making you angry and try to take constructive action to change or avoid these circumstances. If you cannot, accept the fact that the situation cannot be changed and move on. Deep breathing and other relaxation methods can be very helpful in controlling anger. It will take effort, but even “hot heads” can train themselves to avoid the anger response. Your life might depend on your ability to control your temper.

References: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/prevention/stress/anger.htm, http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/1996/11.07/AngerisHostileT.html.

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