Ways Anger Can Affect Your Health Significantly

Anger is an emotion that can be difficult to control, depending on the situation one may be in. Studies have shown that anger often leads to impulsive decision making. For example, the 2010 study published in the book International Handbook of Anger explained that when someone is angry, it changes how they think. They tend to rely on quick, simple judgments instead of carefully considering information. This can lead to seeing risks as less dangerous than they are, which can cause them to make impulsive and overly confident decisions.

But could there be other reasons why anger should not be given importance in your life? Getting angry is a normal part of life, but when a person gets angry a lot, it can hurt their health. It's not just about feeling bad; it's about real physical problems.

How Does Anger Affect Us Physically

The University of California, Berkley's anger management guide titled 'Understanding Anger' explains how anger has been theorized to be an adaptive emotion that comes from the ‘fight or flight’ response of your body. It can be useful when we're in danger, but most of the time, we get angry over small things that don't need a big reaction. If you find yourself getting angry a lot, or if you stay angry for a long time, it's important to understand how it can affect your body and mind. It's more than just a feeling; it's a health issue. It also explains how anger causes our bodies to release internal neurochemical reactions which makes us feel angry. Then, we react, either by thinking more about it, feeling other emotions, or doing something. Everyone experiences anger differently, and how we react is often learned from our families. Some families show anger openly, while others hide it. Our genes and how we grew up both play a role in how we feel and express anger.

Some Ways Anger Can Affect Your Health

The Stress Response

When you're angry, your body gets ready for a fight. It releases chemicals that make your heart beat faster and your blood pressure go up. This is called the "fight or flight" response. It's meant to help you in dangerous situations, but it happens even when you're just mad about something small, like traffic. If this happens a lot, it can wear down your body. Your body isn't designed to be constantly in this stressed state. This constant stress takes a toll.

Heart Health

Getting angry puts a lot of stress on your heart. It can make your heart work harder than it should. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure and other heart problems. People who get angry easily are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes. Even short bursts of anger can harm your heart. Also, if you have an irregular heartbeat, getting angry can make it worse. The chemicals released during anger can mess with your heart's rhythm.

Digestion Problems

Your brain and your stomach are closely connected. When you're angry or stressed, it can upset your stomach. You might get stomach aches, feel sick to your stomach, or have diarrhea. If you're angry or stressed a lot, it can lead to long-term stomach problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Your body's stress response affects your digestive system, making it work differently and causing discomfort.

Mental Health Issues

Being angry a lot can make mental health problems like anxiety and depression worse. It can also make it harder to treat these problems. When you're angry, it can be hard to think clearly. You might start thinking negative thoughts and feel hostile towards others. This can hurt your relationships and make you feel lonely. Keeping anger in check is important for mental health.

Sleep Problems

If you have trouble controlling your anger, you might also have trouble sleeping. When you're angry, your mind races, and it's hard to relax. This makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Not getting enough sleep can make you even more irritable and angry, creating a bad cycle. Good sleep is important, and managing anger can lead to better rest.