In this article, Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine , shares her expert insights of the findings and provides New York residents with evidence-based recommendations for protecting their health. Why This Matters to You
New research reveals a direct link between frequent anger and an increased risk of heart disease.
What This Means for Your Health
"The need for effective anger management becomes even more important!" Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine
Doctor's Expert Insights About Anger and Your Heart Health in Erie County, New York
Know this: "So, look, the findings of this study underscore the critical nature of emotional health in managing cardiovascular risk. Anger, by impairing vascular function, contributes directly to the pathways that can lead to serious heart conditions. Literally, anger can lead to a cascade of events that can lead to an increasing risks of heart disease. You don't want that! Basically, anger can impair endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV). This means, that anger starts a mechanism that ulimately makes it harder for your blood vessels to expand properly. Over time this can cause heart disease. Many people may not know that yoga, along with exercise, deep breathing, and
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) , can be effective in helping individuals manage frequent anger. And, this could potentially reduce the risk of heart disease. It's not just about feeling better emotionally. It's also about safeguarding your heart to ensure a healthier, longer life. Managing anger is not just good for the mind but essential for heart health. Incorporating holistic wellness practices into your daily routines can improve cardiovascular and emotional health."
Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine. Health News Today: A new study suggests that anger may play a role in the development of heart disease by damaging the function of blood vessel cells.
The Science Made Simple: Key Findings and What They Mean for Erie County Residents
Anger makes blood vessels less flexible
The study found that when people were made to feel angry, their blood vessels didn't expand as well as they should have. This effect was seen 40 minutes after the anger was triggered and suggests that anger can quickly damage the health of cells lining the blood vessels.
Anxiety and Sadness Have Less Impact on Blood Vessels
Unlike anger, when people were made to feel anxious or sad, their blood vessels still expanded normally. This means that the negative impact on blood vessel health may be specific to anger.
Blood Pressure Changes
Anger and anxiety increase blood pressure. Compared to the neutral group, people who were made to feel angry or anxious had higher blood pressure. Interestingly though, those people who were made to feel sad did not have a significant change in blood pressure.
No Heart Rate Changes
The study found no significant changes in heart rate when people were made to feel angry, anxious, or sad compared to the neutral group.
Potential Mechanisms
Although the exact ways anger affects blood vessel flexibility are unknown--the authors suggest several possible explanations. These include increased activity of the nervous system, stress hormone imbalances, reduced availability of a substance that helps blood vessels relax, increased inflammation, and higher levels of a protein that narrows blood vessels.
Medical News Today: What This Means for Your Health in Erie County, New York
The Bottom Line: Anger can quickly damage the health of your blood vessels. And this may increase your risk of developing heart disease over time. This study emphasizes the importance of managing anger effectively to protect your cardiovascular health.
If you’re a person who gets angry all the time, you’re having chronic injuries to your blood vessels ... (i)t’s these chronic injuries over time that may eventually cause irreversible effects on vascular health and eventually increase your heart disease risk." Daichi Shimbo, MD . (Study Editorial)
Health Standard Newswire : Getting angry often can damage the health of your blood vessels, making them less able to expand properly. This can put you at a higher risk for serious heart problems, such as heart attacks or strokes.
Health Facts That Matter: Key Statistics for Erie County, New York
The following health facts impact your physical health directly!
Did you know there were 42434 deaths from heart disease in New York in 2021?
15.5% of you in Erie County are smokers.
18.3% of you in Erie County are binge drinkers.
5.4% of you in Erie County have coronary artery disease.
All of these variables above play an important role in the outcomes of your overall health.
