Frequent Angry Outbursts and Rage May Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease, Seeking Counseling May Be Essential for Long Life

Some people are known for their tempers, irrational outbursts, and rage sometimes aimed at anyone that gets in the way. They may say they are just letting off steam. But you wonder if people actually were aware of what those angry outbursts are doing to their hearts if they would continue to do it.

Frequent angry outbursts may raise the risk of heart disease significantly. It is no longer wise to be a hothead and have no control of your temper. Researchers and physicians are worried about the irritable, raging, negative and intimidating personality types. People who experience frequently a high level of anger. There is a direct relationship between stress and emotions and heart disease.

Reasonable expression of anger is normal and healthy

Moderate or infrequent anger does not seem to be the problem. It seems to be associated with the frequent and high levels of anger. In fact it is well known that it is healthy to express anger reasonably. Being angry and expressing that anger is fine, but throwing objects and having uncontrolled temper tantrums puts a person a great risk for heart disease.

And don't think that just because you don't show your anger you are out of the woods. People that suppress their rage are not benefiting in this situation.

The theory as to how anger affects the heart is rather straight forward. Angry, hostile emotions activate the "fight or flight response" in the nervous system. Stress hormones elevate the heart rate and breathing and you get a burst of energy. You are ready to fight or flee to protect yourself. You also get a rise in blood pressure.

"fight or flight" is normal and protective, used too often it becomes dangerous

This response has it's place. It is in our bodies to protect us. But having that repeated elevation of cortisol and adrenaline levels cause a cardiotoxic effect. It may also cause an increase in the development of atherosclerosis which is the fatty plaque build up in the arteries.

High levels of anxiety or depression may also contribute to increase risk of heart disease. These emotions seem to occur along with angry outbursts. People who have anger issues usually have other chronic negative emotions.

People who are chronically angry usually have other negative emotions also working against them

The study does give a statistic of frequently angry or hostile adults with no history of heart problems could be as much as 19% more likely to develop heart disease than calm, in control individuals. And people that already have heart disease along with their angry hostile temperaments are 24% more likely than calm patients with heart disease to have a poor prognosis.

Physicians are now encouraged to realize that anger and negative emotions may be risk factors that need to be controlled such as cholesterol, weight and smoking. The doctor needs to take care of the whole person and help them get help with counseling and anger management.

So if you are one of those people that have a problem coping and have frequent uncontrolled angry outbursts and you don't care who gets in your way. Think again, you may be killing yourself.

Sources:

WebMD