Anger Can Lead to Blood Vessel Changes That May Harm the Heart

Losing your temper may do more than leave you in a bad mood. A new study suggests that it might also lead to blood vessel damage that increases the risk of heart disease.

For the new study, scientists randomly assigned 280 people to complete four different eight-minute tasks designed to elicit different emotions:

• Recalling a memory that made them angry
• Remembering a situation that made them anxious
• Reading depressing sentences designed to make them feel sad
• Repeatedly counting to 100 to maintain a neutral emotional state

Before, during, and after participants completed these tasks, scientists assessed their blood vessels to look for signs of impaired dilation (or lower ability to effectively pump blood), damage at the cellular level, and any reduced ability of cells to repair damage.

Anger and Blood Vessel Dysfunction

“Impaired vascular function is linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke,” Dr. Shimbo added. “Investigation into the underlying links between anger and blood vessel dysfunction may help identify effective intervention targets for people at increased risk of cardiovascular events.”

All of the study participants were relatively young and healthy. They were 26 years old on average and none of them had a history of conditions like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or any mental health issues.

Scientists prepared them for the experiment by having them relax for a half-hour before it started, providing a cozy chair in a quiet room and asking them to refrain from talking, reading, or using their phones.

One limitation of the experiment is that results from young, healthy people assessed in a lab might not reflect what might happen with older adults, people with chronic medical problems, or individuals experiencing the full range of emotions in their daily lives.

It’s also not clear from the experiment exactly what happens to blood vessels after long-term exposure to anger or other negative emotions because the study only looked at a brief moment in time. The study also focused on biomarkers, or lab tests, to measure brief changes in cellular health inside blood vessels, rather than objectively measuring this over time.

Anger and Stress Management

“I think this study’s findings are one piece of a larger picture of what happens physiologically when we experience strong emotions, but I wouldn’t say that the vessels were damaged, because the effects did not last beyond 40 minutes,” says Rebecca Campo, PhD, a program director in the division of cardiovascular sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), who wasn’t involved in the new study. The study was supported by NHLBI funding.

Getting angry occasionally isn’t likely to cause health problems, Dr. Campo says.

The study also wasn’t designed to test out exactly what intensity or frequency of anger might lead to medical issues over time. “It is likely to be very individualized based on a person’s current health status and ability to cope with stressors,” Campo says.

Even so, there are things people can do to manage stress and anger that may promote heart health. This can include being physically active, using relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga, doing activities that feel meaningful or provide a sense of purpose, and spending time with supportive friends and family members, Campo says.

When the stress and anger feel like too much to manage with these types of stress-reduction measures, it’s also important not to go it alone.

“Seeking professional help with psychotherapy or participating in a stress management program can also help manage stress and difficult emotions, especially when stress is ongoing and unmanageable,” Campo says.