Short bursts of anger can affect your blood vessels in a way that weakens circulation and raises the risk of a heart attack or stroke, says a new study. Scientists have found that just eight minutes of angry emotions can lower the ability of blood vessels to widen by nearly half, and the effect lasts for up to 40 minutes later. These findings add horrific details to how anger and heart health are connected – suggesting that flared tempers can play havoc with your cardiovascular health.
Experts from various institutions in the US studied nearly 300 healthy adults by asking them to recall an angry memory for eight minutes, and the results they got were striking.
However, emotions like sadness or anxiety did not cause the same impact
Healthy blood vessels normally widen to allow smooth blood flow. When they stiffen, the heart has to work harder to push blood through, placing stress on the cardiovascular system. Over time, repeated episodes of anger may increase the risk of:
Anger triggers your body’s fight-or-flight response, leading to a surge of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones tighten blood vessel walls, raise blood pressure, and increase the heart rate. Dr. Nimit C Shah, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, explains that while a single episode may not cause permanent harm, frequent anger can gradually damage blood vessels.
“One episode isn't forever, but frequent anger adds up, leading to plaque buildup and higher risks of heart attacks or strokes,” he said.
Extreme anger tightens the walls of blood vessels, raising your blood pressure levels
Also read:Warning Signs of Blocked Leg Arteries You Must Not Ignore; Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease
Doctors say the good news is that while you do not need to eliminate anger, it is important to manage it better. A few simple strategies can make a big difference:
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