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Healthy You Archives |
Heart of Healthy You
Anger and Heart DiseaseHere’s how you can break this dangerous link Thousands of years ago, Buddha said, “Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” Science proves him right—researchers have found that anger-prone people are nearly three times more likely to suffer heart attacks.Why? “Anger may increase the amount of certain hormones that cause plaque to build up in our arteries. That in itself is a heart disease risk factor,” says cardiologist Gerald Pytlewski, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “These same chemicals also can bring on a heart attack and raise the risk for irregular heartbeat.” Anger is at least as damaging to women as men. “In fact, women’s smaller blood vessels may put them at higher risk, because plaque can build up more quickly,” Pytlewski says. Women also are more likely to keep anger inside—and research shows that concealed anger puts you at five times greater risk for a heart attack (and sets the stage for heart-damaging anxiety and depression). To better manage your anger: Keep perspective. “Many of us take things much too seriously,” says Pytlewski’s colleague, psychiatrist Edward Norris, M.D. “A work deadline, though important, isn’t a matter of life and death.” Practice stress management techniques.Reducing stress also helps defuse anger. Try yoga, Tai Chi, deep breathing, stretching, meditating or listening to relaxation tapes. “Even 20 minutes a day lowers your risk if it helps you relax,” Pytlewski says. Stay active.“Exercise lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and the stress hormones that cause plaque buildup,” Pytlewski says. “It’s the perfect heart-protecting ‘drug.’ ” Control what you can.If you feel overwhelmed by too many commitments, for example, rearrange your schedule to combine tasks or opt out of appointments altogether. “And if you’re on vacation, leave your cell phone and pager at home,” Pytlewski says. Live a healthy lifestyle.People who are chronically angry and stressed are more likely to have other heart-damaging habits, such as smoking, excessive drinking and a careless diet. “I tell my patients to consume less caffeine and sugar, and eat plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables,” says Pytlewski. Consider psychotherapy.You can’t prevent people from cutting you off in traffic, but you can learn — through counseling — how to respond to such high-stress situations. “It’s not the situation that boosts your blood pressure,” Norris says. “It’s your reaction to it.”
Want to Know More about whether anger is putting you at increased risk for heart disease? Take an anger quiz. This page last updated 4/16/08 02:32 PM
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