There would hardly be anyone who has never felt angry. We all get angry sometimes. It is generally believed that this is a normal feeling to express. If you also believe this and get angry over small things, then be careful. Research has shown that anger can be very harmful for your health. Let us know how anger affects your heart.
What did the research reveal?
In this study, scientists found that if you get angry even for just 8 minutes, it has a negative impact on your blood vessels for the next 40 minutes. This effect is such that it halves the ability of the vessels to dilate and contract, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Study done on 280 people
This study included 280 people who had neither heart disease nor diabetes. They were divided into different groups and asked to do different tasks. Some people were asked to recall past angry events, while others were asked to recall sad or anxious moments. Whereas, one group was asked to remain completely quiet and just count. The results were quite surprising. The results showed that people who were angry had reduced blood flow in their veins, while people who were sad or upset had no such ill effects.
What happens when we get angry?
Anger has a negative impact on the body because stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released rapidly. These hormones shrink the inner layer of blood vessels, which reduces blood flow, increases blood pressure and puts more strain on the heart.
When is the risk high?
If you get angry sometimes, it doesn’t do much harm. The risk increases when you become habitually angry. This doesn’t give your veins time to heal, and in the long run, it can lead to blockages and serious heart disease.
how to control your anger
When you get angry, avoid responding immediately. Take a deep breath and count to 10.
Keep yourself physically active. Take a short walk, do yoga or exercise every day. This will reduce stress.
Meditation or deep breathing exercises can be beneficial for calming your mind. If you are not able to control your anger on your own, then talk to a doctor or expert.