It may be difficult to calm down when you are very angry, but doing so may just help save your life. Findings of a new study have revealed that the feeling of intense anger can increase a person's risks for heart attacks up to two hours after the feeling occurs.
In a new study published in the European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care on Feb. 23, Thomas Buckley from the University of Sydney in Australia and colleagues asked over 300 patients who were admitted at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney between 2006 and 2012 to answer a questionnaire about their feelings 48 hours before the symptoms of heart attack appeared.
The patients rated their feelings on a scale of 1 to 7 with one being calm and seven being so enraged things get out of control. The participants were also asked what caused their anger, which include arguments with others, driving and work-related anger.
The researchers found that feelings of anger that are rated more than five were associated with 8.5-fold increased risks of heart attack compared with normal levels of anger. Buckley and colleagues found that seven of the patients or 2.2 percent of the participants experienced at least level 5 anger within two hours before the symptoms of heart attack appeared.
One participant also had level 5 anger within four hours of suffering from heart attack. Two participants had level 4 anger within two hours of heart attack and three participants had the same level of anger within four hours of their attack. The researchers likewise found that lower levels of anger within two hours before the onset of heart attack symptoms were not statistically significant.
Although high blood pressure and smoking are known to increase a person's odds of suffering from heart attack, it is unclear what pushes some individuals to go over the edge and trigger an attack. The findings of the study, however, suggest that intense emotions could play a role in the occurrence of this potentially fatal event.
"Our findings confirm what has been suggested in prior studies and anecdotal evidence, even in films -- that episodes of intense anger can act as a trigger for a heart attack," Buckley said. "The data shows that the higher risk of a heart attack isn't necessarily just while you're angry -- it lasts for two hours after the outburst."
The researchers said that people should avoid activities that involve intense reaction as well as learn to manage anger and anxiety.
The study was supported by University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital.
