What Anger Does to Your Health?

There is a reason all of us have anger at times, and without it, the human race would not have survived. Imagine if you were being attacked—that is probably a good time to feel anger because otherwise, you may not make any effort to defend yourself. However, while anger can be constructive, there can also be chronic anger, and chronic anger is said to be the most dangerous type of anger for one’s health.

Anger and your health

Take a look at what goes on in your body when you feel anger. Your heart rate rises, your blood pressure increases, your breathing becomes more shallow and rapid, and you tense your muscles. These reactions serve an important purpose when you need to defend yourself, but experiencing frequent or continuous anger can cause significant health problems. A link has been discovered between poor anger control and high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems. There is also evidence that excessive anger can increase one’s risk of certain types of cancer. Anger can also have a more indirect effect on your health. For instance, if you are often angry or have poor emotional regulation, you may have decreased support in your life or chaotic relationships. It is well known that a healthy support system can be a defense for some health problems. Also, if your anger results in you placing yourself in risky situations, such as getting into fights, punching walls, driving recklessly, etc., injuries could certainly be a consequence of your anger. By the way, there is an excellent book entitled Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky, which goes into much detail about the long-term physical effects of anger and what one can do about it.

What to do

If you believe anger has caused health problems for you, the first step is to talk to a doctor, who may order tests. Your doctor may recommend attending Anger Management classes, which can teach coping skills to reduce anger. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one modality that can help a person identify cognitive patterns that contribute to excessive anger and help the client replace those thoughts with healthier ways of thinking. Mindfulness strategies can also help a person use self-control strategies to reduce anger. Even couples counseling can help a person become a more assertive communicator, which can also help reduce anger.