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Anger and Heart Disease

According to the Mayo Clinic, heart disease is a very broad term that is used to describe various diseases that can affect the heart or blood vessels. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women worldwide and is responsible for millions of deaths in the United States each year. According to CNN News, whenever a person gets angry there are electrical changes that take place in the heart. Negative emotions, especially anger, depression and misery are terrible for the heart.

  1. Arrhythmia

    • Anger can increase the likelihood of arrhythmias. An arrhythmia is a problem with the rhythm or rate of a heartbeat. An arrhythmia can cause the heart to beat too fast, slow or irregularly. Rachel Lampert, a professor at Yale University School of Medicine, recommended decreasing potential arrhythmias with a combination of stress management and anger management.

    Considerations

    • Harvard University acknowledged that a hostile heart is a vulnerable one. Harvard Medical School found that angry men are three times more likely to develop heart disease than calmer ones. Harvey Simon, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard, stated that anger can be used as a predictor for premature heart diseases in young adults.

    Symptoms

    • Anger can manifest itself in various ways. Some of the most common signs of anger are irritability, frustration, resentment, rage and annoyance. Recognizing the symptoms of anger can help an individual better control her temper. Warning signs of building anger include a racing pulse, a jumpy or restless feeling and fast breathing. A person who recognizes these symptoms needs to take steps to cool his emotions.

    Anger Management

    • Individuals who are having difficulty coping with their anger should seek professional help. Professional anger management therapy can help a person understand the reasons behind her anger. A professional assessment can even determine if anger is something that was experienced in childhood and carried over to adulthood. Two strategies for dealing with anger include taking a "time out" and forgiving others.

    Warning

    • Some individuals are not diagnosed with heart disease until the condition has worsened to the point of a stroke, heart attack or sudden cardiac death. Fortunately, there are preventive measures that a person can take to reduce his chances of getting heart disease. It's important to live a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet and exercise. Also, individuals should consider how they can incorporate anger management into their day-to-day life.

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