Being angry, even for just 8 minutes, induces changes in the blood vessels that can ultimately increase the risk of heart attacks.
- Short bursts of anger can temporarily damage the ability of blood vessels to dilate properly, according to a new study.
- Which increases the risk of heart attack.
- Further research is needed to confirm and refine the finding.
“Anger is bad for the function of your blood vessels”assures Dr. Daichi Shimbo, cardiologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and lead author of a study concerning the impact of emotions on heart health. “It harms the functioning of your arteries, which is linked to future risk of heart attack.”
His discovery was detailed in an article published in The Journal of the American Heart AssociationMay 1, 2024.
Heart attack: anger impacts the dilation of blood vessels
For several years, scientists have noticed that negative emotions such as anger are linked to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. However, the mechanisms at play behind this association remain mysterious.
To identify them, the cardiologist gathered 280 apparently healthy young adults with no history of heart disease or stroke. They were divided into 4 groups. Everyone was assigned a task to complete over an eight-minute period. A group was asked to recall out loud personal memories that aroused their anger. Another had to recount events that created anxiety. The third was asked to read sentences that evoked sadness. The final group was asked to count out loud to remain in an emotionally neutral state.
Several blood pressure and heart rate measurements were then taken, as well as tests to assess the health of endothelial cells (i.e. the inner cellular lining of blood vessels). “Endothelial dysfunction has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes”specify the authors in their communicated.
Compared to the emotionally neutral group, people who recalled memories that provoked anger had a decreased ability of their blood vessels to dilate. It was reduced by more than half. “This effect peaked 40 minutes after the anger recall task, and then function returned to normal.”
On the other hand, provoked anxiety and sadness did not have statistically significant effects.
Anger and heart: the long-term effects still to be studied
While the effect of anger on blood vessels appears temporary, Dr. Daichi Shimbo notes that it resulted from just eight minutes of recalling angry feelings. For him, his study raises questions about the cumulative impact of anger on blood vessel function over a longer period of time.
“We showed that if you get angry once, it harms the dilation ability of your vessels, notes the cardiologist. But what happens if you get angry 10,000 times in your lifetime? This chronic “offense” to your arteries can eventually lead to permanent damage. That’s what we think is happening.”
Health professionals also note that this study focused on young adults without heart problems and without risk factors. The next step in the research would therefore be to expand the sample to people suffering from cardiovascular diseases to determine whether the harmful effect is greater for them.
