A recent study published in New Scientist suggests that experiencing anger, even for just a few minutes, can have negative effects on blood vessel functioning, potentially increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study involved young adults who were asked to recall past experiences that made them angry, with researchers measuring various aspects of their circulatory health.
While none of the participants experienced a heart attack or stroke during the study, they did show impaired blood vessel functioning that has been linked to such cardiovascular events. This finding suggests that intense emotions, like anger, may contribute to cardiac events in individuals who already have poor health.
Previous research has also indicated a link between intense emotional experiences and heart attacks. For example, one study found that individuals were more than twice as likely to have experienced anger or emotional upset in the hour before a heart attack compared to the same time period the day before.
In this study, participants who were asked to recall a recent experience that made them angry showed a decrease in blood vessel dilation capacity that lasted for about 40 minutes. This suggests that the effects of anger on blood vessel functioning may have long-term consequences on cardiovascular health.
While the study did not find similar effects for anxiety or sadness, the researchers noted that repeated episodes of negative emotions could potentially cause irreversible damage to cardiovascular physiology over time. Experts suggest that further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which psychological states impact cardiovascular health.
Overall, this study highlights the potential impact of intense emotions, like anger, on heart health and emphasizes the importance of managing emotions for overall well-being.