We live as we think, but we can die as we feel. For years, doctors have not taken into account the impact of emotions on diseases, but there is increasing evidence that emotional states influence the appearance of numerous pathologies or can aggravate them.
Now, a study conducted at the University of Sydney has revealed a disturbing fact: the risk of suffering a heart attack increases 8.5 times in the two hours after experiencing intense emotions, especially anger and anxiety. In the case of anxiety attacks, the risk is even higher, increasing up to 9.5 times.
This study confirms that an attack of anxiety or intense anger can really trigger a heart attack, just as is often seen in films after the protagonist has a bitter argument. What is more, the most curious thing is that the risk is not limited to the moment when we are experiencing these emotions but extends even two hours after the episode.
The study analysed a total of 313 people with acute coronary occlusion. The psychologists investigated in depth the emotions they had experienced two days before their heart attack. They found that many of them reported sensations such as muscle tension, loss of control and being on the verge of exploding.
The main triggers of these sensations were:
– Family arguments – 29%
– Discussions with other people – 42%
– Problems at work – 14%
– Situations related to driving – 14%
The study also found that when people experience high levels of anxiety or anger, physiological changes occur, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, hardening of blood vessels, and increased blood clotting. These are all risk factors associated with the development of a heart attack.
Of course, this is not the first study to delve into the relationship between emotions and heart problems. In fact, in 1995, researchers at Harvard Medical School conducted a similar study, in which they analyzed more than 1,600 people who had suffered a heart attack. On this occasion, they asked them to reconstruct the previous 26 hours before the episode. They also found that anger could act as a trigger for a heart attack, increasing the risk even 2 hours later.
Obviously, intense emotions are not enough to cause a heart attack in a healthy person, but if the person is already overweight, has arteriosclerosis or hypertension, anger and anxiety act as triggers. However, people who suffer from chronic anxiety or who have made hostility and anger their habitual coping method are also at risk of cardiovascular diseases over time.
The physiological mechanisms of anger and anxiety
Both anxiety and anger have direct physiological effects on the heart and arteries, as they activate the “fight or flight” response, which means that a greater amount of stress-related hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, are produced. These hormones give us the energy we need at that moment, but they also alter the normal functioning of the body, affecting our breathing and heart rate.
In fact, they can cause your heart rate to increase to 180 beats per minute, when the normal rate would be between 50 and 100 beats per minute. It can also raise your blood pressure from 120/80 to 220/130.
If this response, which should only be activated in emergency cases, is repeated frequently, adrenaline and cortisol reach cardiotoxic levels. In fact, it has been observed that states such as hostility and anger accelerate the process of plaque formation in the arteries.
On the other hand, it has also been proven that anxiety and anger inhibit the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that participates in the regulation of heart rate. When there is not enough acetylcholine, the heart rate simply accelerates.
In this regard, a study conducted at University College London found that during episodes of high stress or anger, the signals between the brain and the heart are virtually interrupted. In fact, it has been observed that these emotions cause neurons to shrink in size and disconnect. In the long term, neuronal death occurs.
So now you know: both anger and anxiety work against you. A healthy lifestyle doesn’t just mean eating a balanced diet and exercising, it also means taking care of your psychological well-being. Learning to control anger and manage anxiety is essential to living longer and increasing your quality of life.
References:
Buckley, T. et. Al. (2015) Triggering of acute coronary occlusion by episodes of anger. European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care .
Critchley, H.D. et. Al. (2004) Mental stress and sudden cardiac death: asymmetric midbrain activity as a linking mechanism. Brain 128(1): 75-85.
Mittleman, M.A. et. Al. (1995) Triggering of Acute Myocardial Infarction Onset by Episodes of Anger. Circulation 92: 1720-1725.
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