Getting angry can constrict blood vessels and increase a person’s risk of developing heart disease, according to a US study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Previous observational studies have already shown that negative emotions like anger can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. To explore how this happens, the researchers recruited 280 healthy adults aged 18 to 73 years who were free of cardiovascular disease and other risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. All participants were non-smokers and did not have a history of mood disorders.
The researchers measured blood flow changes in the blood vessels of each participant’s dominant arm. Then, they were randomly assigned to four groups: those in the anger and anxiety groups were asked to talk for eight minutes about personal experiences that had evoked those emotions; the sadness group was asked to read aloud for eight minutes statements that elicited sadness; and the control group just counted numbers for eight minutes to induce an emotionally neutral state.
The ability of the blood vessels to dilate was reduced by more than half among those in the angry group compared with those in the control group. And these negative effects lasted up to 40 minutes after the angry episode. However, being anxious and sad did not have any impact on blood vessels.“If you are a person who gets angry all the time, you are having chronic injuries to your blood vessels,” said the study leader. “It is these chronic injuries over time that may eventually cause irreversible effects on vascular health and eventually increase your heart disease risk.”
Studies have linked impaired blood vessel dilation to the development of atherosclerosis, or the buildup of fatty deposits inside the vessel walls, which in turn can lead to heart attack and stroke. The study underscores the importance of anger management to reduce the risk of heart disease.
