Summary
A report of anger and health finds that people who are chronically angry may have a greater risk of developing health problems because they may have weakened immune systems, and their anger could lead them to take up unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking, which can lead to serious health problems.
Original source:
http://maconareaonline.com/news.asp?id=11398
Details
People who are hostile or angry for longer periods of time are more at risk of health problems, according to a review of recent literature on anger and health.
"Scientists now are pretty confident that it does," Dr. John Swartzberg of the University of California, Berkeley, told Reuters Health.
According to the university's Wellness Letter, preliminary evidence suggests that chronic anger may weaken the immune system and cause other health problems, perhaps by triggering bad habits such as smoking and drinking, or by boosting stress hormones, which may affect immunity.
In an interview, he noted that he and his colleagues decided to assemble an article about anger and health following recent studies that investigated this relationship.
In addition, global events and news of fights at sporting events demonstrate that "there's a lot of anger in the world today," he commented.
The report describes two recent studies that found hostility can increase the risk of dying, among both men with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and postmenopausal women with heart disease, among whom hostility also increased the risk of a second heart attack.
Another study showed that nearly 40 percent of people who had the most common type of stroke, called ischemic stroke, had felt angry or experienced something upsetting within two hours before the event.
In terms of treating anger, Swartzberg had several recommendations.
Try relaxation therapy or meditation to quiet the body, he suggested.
Think about how to satisfy needs in a constructive way, and consider therapy, he said.
Swartzberg added that research also shows that
anger management courses can help -- but only if people volunteer for them, not if they are forced to attend, suggesting that "motivation" is a big factor.
"We're not helpless in the face of this," he said.
About the author: Mike Adams is an award-winning journalist and holistic nutritionist with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, and he has authored and published several downloadable personal preparedness courses including a downloadable course focused on safety and self defense. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams created TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, martial arts and organic gardening. He's also author of numerous health books published by Truth Publishing and is the creator of several consumer-oriented grassroots campaigns, including the Spam. Don't Buy It! campaign, and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. He also created the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the ending of corporate control over medicines, genes and seeds. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org
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Sunday, July 24, 2005
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