We know that being angry isn’t typically a pleasant experience, but can anger affect your heart health? Learn about the connection here.
It’s normal to feel angry every once in a while, but constant episodes of anger may be affecting your heart health. In fact, some research suggests that the risk of angina (chest pain) slightly rises within two hours of an angry outburst. The studies also show it slightly increases your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or a risky heart rhythm.
According to Jeremy Warner, DO, from Samaritan Cardiology – Corvallis, “Anger causes a flood of adrenaline, preparing your body for danger by raising blood pressure, heart rate and breathing, and making blood more likely to clot. This can weaken artery walls and raise the risk for heart disease.”
Warner also notes that while chronic anger is not a significant risk factor in heart health, it still has effects: “The best ways to prevent heart disease are to control risk factors like smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, exercise, and diabetes. However, our emotions impact health, so attending to stress is also important.”
Anger, along with other strong emotions like anxiety and depression, can lead to chronic stress and hurt your heart health. “If we are on high alert for an extended period of time, it takes a toll on the body,” says Warner. “It’s important to learn constructive ways to express anger and minimize stress.”
Reducing Anger and Stress
The American Psychological Association (APA) offers a few tips when it comes to managing your anger and stress. They recommend that you relax, avoid “absolute” thinking, learn to respond slowly, and get help as necessary.
Relaxing helps you detach from the intensity of the moment. Try counting to 10, briefly leaving the room, or repeating a mantra to yourself. For example, you can tell yourself that everything will be alright.”
You should also avoid absolute thinking patterns where it’s all or nothing. When you’re in the heat of the moment, you may think that the worst thing is happening. However, you can help prevent this by taking a step back and acknowledging that you may not feel as strongly about it in the future – if at all.
Finally, you should also learn to respond slowly and not say the first thing that comes to mind. If you need help, seek the advice and counseling of a mental health professional to learn effective techniques to deal with your anger and stress.
The Outlook
While anger may not have a direct effect on your heart health, it can lead to stress, which affects your heart. To prevent this from happening, learn techniques that help you deal with your anger healthily and seek help when necessary.
In addition, you can give your heart health an extra boost by taking supplements like L-arginine Plus. Its ingredients are effective at promoting nitric oxide production, a natural vasodilator that improves circulation.
Give your heart health the support it deserves by managing your anger and taking L-arginine Plus.