A recent study conducted by researchers from Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Yale School of Medicine, St. John’s University in New York, and other institutions has shed light on the connection between sudden anger and heart health. The experiment involved 280 healthy young adults who were asked to recall events evoking anger, sadness, or anxiety, while a control group maintained a neutral emotional state by counting aloud.
Blood samples were taken and blood flow and pressure were measured before the experiment and periodically over 100 minutes afterwards. The results, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, showed that anger may damage the heart by compromising blood vessel function.
Dr. Holly Middlekauff, a cardiologist and professor at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, believes that these findings could help physicians advise patients with heart disease and anger issues on managing their emotions through strategies like yoga, exercise, or cognitive behavioural therapy. Middlekauff stressed the importance of understanding the impact of anger on heart health, as it can raise blood pressure and lead to impaired vascular health, potentially increasing the risk of heart attacks.
The study offers a biological plausibility that supports the theory that anger is harmful to heart health. Middlekauff believes that this information may grab the attention of patients who need to manage their emotions for better heart health. It is clear that controlling anger and finding healthy ways to cope with it is crucial for overall heart health.
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