Anger isn't just an unpleasant emotion – it can actually impair your blood vessel health for up to 40 minutes at a time, increasing risks of stroke and heart disease, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The study found that feelings of anger had detrimental effects on vascular function that persisted for up to 40 minutes after an 8-minute anger-provoking task. Researchers at Columbia University randomized 280 participants to recall emotions like anger, sadness, anxiety, or neutral feelings. While the sadness and anxiety groups showed no significant vascular changes compared to neutral emotions, those in the anger group exhibited concerning impacts on their blood vessels in the short term.
"Anger made it harder for blood vessels to dilate properly when blood flow was restricted," said lead author Dr. Daichi Shimbo. "It also affected markers of blood vessel injury and impaired repair abilities."
These vascular impairments lasted for up to 40 minutes after the anger-recall task ended. The researchers speculate that for those who experience frequent bouts of rage, the repeated insults could chronically damage blood vessels over time. "If you're frequently getting angry, you may be repeatedly impairing your blood vessels for up to 40 minutes each time," Dr. Shimbo said. "That chronic vascular injury likely increases risks of stroke and heart disease down the line."
While anger is a normal human emotion, the study underscores learning to express it in healthy ways. Unresolved, lingering anger appears to directly compromise blood vessel function and cardiovascular health. "This shows a clear mechanism linking anger to higher stroke and heart risks," said Dr. Joe Ebinger, who wasn't involved in the research. "Managing anger could be key for protecting long-term vascular health."
Experts suggest techniques like exercise, identifying anger triggers, and resolving unmet needs to process anger constructively. Reducing excessive, uncontrolled bouts of anger may provide cardiovascular benefits by limiting repeated vascular insults.
