Anger and Stress

If you want to take better control of your health and well-being, we have to take responsibility and control our tempers. Research confirms angry outbursts can increase your risk of a heart attack by nearly tenfold. It does not take years for the buildup of anger issues in regards to heart disease. It takes as little as two hours to reach that deadly point. Having a history of heart disease only makes it worse.

An Australian study surveyed patients hospitalized for acute coronary occlusion. That is a blood clot in the main artery (my mother had this). Researchers asked them to rate their levels of anger (1 least to 7 worst) within the last two days prior to their hospital admission. The survey found people at a five or more were 8.5 times more likely to have a heart attack. And angry outbursts nearly quadrupled their stroke risk.

Dealing with frustration or rage can be in small or large areas of your life. These responses release adrenaline and norepinephrine. They are stress hormones. Too much of these can narrow arteries and increase blood pressure towards a heart attack or stroke. Stress is the cause of up to 90 percent or more of doctor visits. There are more natural methods to handle your stress. By working on your heart issues (present state of being) and eating healthier whole foods so that your immune system will be as close to 100 percent to handle the possibility of physical, emotional and mental stresses we can control. Those areas that we cannot control, like encountering environmental toxins and their effects on our body, we can minimize the stress with a more positive attitude by thinking clearly on how to eradicate those enemies of our system and, finally, behavioral pattern changes by being more patient with yourself and others.

We think we may have a handle on our stress patterns. But the majority of humans tend to live in the state of negativity. What would it look and feel like to live with emotions of happiness, joy, excitement, exhilaration, confidence, strength, wholeness and self-worth? For example, to reach that place of joy, there needs to be a visceral recognition of the negative emotions of feelings with the states of sadness, feeling inferior and worthlessness and being flawed. I had to look at many areas of my life and release those negative emotions with the help of a coach who would not placate me, but pointed out the effects on my health and helped me to live in the present more often. It takes repetition to change habits. Only you can control your stress levels and negative pattern to lower your risk of heart attacks and strokes.