Anger negatively affects health: It can cause numerous problems

 This emotion promotes the release of stress hormones, which can harm heart health over time.

Anger isn't just an unpleasant emotion, it can negatively affect your health.

Damaging effects

While anger can serve as a warning signal and motivate us to do something, it often involves a sense of hostility towards someone or something that has caused us trouble.

If anger is experienced too often, intensely or too long, or if it seems a disproportionate event that has caused it, it can have adverse effects on our well-being and health.

This emotion activates the physical reaction of “fighting or escape”, which causes adrenal glands to release stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This leads to physiological changes such as an accelerated heart rate and elevated blood pressure, which prepares the body for “combat or a” escape.

While this stress reaction has evolved to protect us, most everyday situations (like traffic jams or minor conflicts) do not require such high energy levels. Chronic activation of stress hormones can lead to serious health problems.

Here are a few ways how anger affects health.

Heart health

Anger promotes the release of stress hormones, which can harm heart health over time. Studies show that even brief moments of anger can weaken the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, potentially leading to high blood pressure and related conditions such as heart disease, heart attacks, strokes and metabolic syndrome.

Individuals with high levels of anger or those who often perceive hostility are at greater risk of coronary heart disease and associated complications. Anger also exacerbates arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats.

Risk of a heart attack

Research shows that anger is associated with a higher risk of heart attack. A review of studies involving nearly 4,000 participants found that anger can more than double the likelihood of a heart attack within two hours of outbursts, with a stronger link in more intense anger.

Issues of probation

The brain and intestines interact closely, and stress can disrupt this interaction. Stress can lead to gastrointestinal issues like abdominal pain, stomach ailments and diarrhea. 

Long-term stress has also been associated with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Mental health

Anger can negatively affect mental health, since it is often elevated in emotional disorders like anxiety and depression.

It can worsen symptoms and reduce treatment effectiveness.

Long-term anger can impair concentration, encourage hostility and strained relations, which can be detrimental to the general welfare.

Sleep disorder

Those who struggle with anger or often experience anger tend to have poorer sleep quality. 

Studies have shown that higher levels of anger are associated with significant increases in sleep disorders.