Recent research revealed a profound impact of anger on the heart, mind, and digestive system, particularly if it persists over a long period. According to a report published by the Wall Street Journal, the effects of anger extend beyond the psychological aspect and significantly impact bodily organs.
**Heart**
A study published this month in the American Heart Association journal found that anger can increase the risk of heart attacks by impairing vascular function. Researchers examined the effects of three different emotions on the heart: anger, anxiety, and sadness. One group was subjected to a task designed to make them angry, another group to induce anxiety, while a third group performed an exercise aimed at provoking sadness. Scientists tested the vascular function of each participant using a blood pressure device to temporarily restrict blood flow in the arm and then release it. The blood flow in the angry group was worse than that of individuals in the other groups; their blood vessels did not expand as much. Study author Daichi Shimbo, a professor of medicine at Columbia University and team leader, stated, "We speculate that over time, if you’re subjected to these chronic insults to your arteries due to your intense anger, it will leave you vulnerable to heart disease."
**Digestive System**
When someone becomes angry, the body produces various proteins and hormones that increase inflammation. Chronic inflammation can heighten the risk of numerous diseases. The sympathetic nervous system, also known as the "fight or flight" response, is activated, directing blood away from the intestines to the major muscles, explains Stephen Loeb, director of behavioral medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic. This leads to slowed movement in the digestive system, potentially causing issues like constipation. Additionally, the spaces between cells in the intestinal lining open up, allowing more food and waste to pass through those gaps, resulting in further inflammation that can exacerbate symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, or constipation.
**Mind**
Joyce Tam, an assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, asserts that anger can impair cognitive performance. This includes the neurons in the prefrontal cortex, the front part of our brain that can affect attention, cognitive control, and our ability to regulate emotions. According to Tam, anger can prompt the body to release stress hormones into the bloodstream, and high levels of these hormones can damage neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of the brain. She adds that damage to the prefrontal cortex can affect decision-making, attention, and executive function. Simultaneously, the hippocampus is the main part of the brain used for memory. Hence, when neurons are damaged, it can disrupt the ability to learn and retain information, says Tam.
