“Behind the Scenes”
Anger hurts the angry person more than the object of its anger.
The brain, as the control center of the body, processes all emotional stress. Millions of nerve fibers release chemicals to every organ in the body, controlling all chemical reactions. Emotional upset can disrupt these reactions in organs, and cause disease.
During an outburst of anger, stress hormones (adrenaline and noradrenalin) are released. These chemicals helps maintain the heart rate, blood pressure and regulates the pancreas that controls the sugar balance in our blood.
Because of our anger, the usual (average) heart rate of 80 climbs to 180 beats per minute.
An average blood pressure of 120 over 80 suddenly soars to 220 over 130, sometimes even higher.
Breathing becomes more rapid to get more oxygen into the body.
The energy burst causes a sugar deficiency, so that an angry person may “shake from anger”.
Muscles that are needed to fight or flee become very tight, causing an “uptight” feeling.
As the body prepares for survival, it safeguards itself against injury and bleeding. Likewise, an angry person' body releases chemicals to coagulate (clot) the blood, creating a situation that's potential dangerous. Although there is no physical injury, the clot is formed, which can travel through the blood vessels to the brain or heart.
Physical implications
Angry, hostile people face a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke.
In a fit of anger a heart patient may experience a fatal heart attack due to the fact that the blood clot floating up to the heart lodges there.
John Hunter, a physiologist said, “The first scoundrel that gets me angry will kill me.” Some time later a conference speaker incensed Hunter, who bitterly attacked the man. Hunter's anger did cause a fatal heart attack.
Circulation hazzards
An oxygen depleted heart causes severe chest pains (Angina pectoris).
Uncontrollable anger may also cause a brain artery to burst, resulting in a stroke.
Arguments and verbal duels cause many and aggravate all cases of high blood pressure.
Spasms in uptight neck and head muscles cause tension headaches, migraine, and/or insomnia.
Metabolism hazzards
Our metabolism is also effected by the chemical imbalance.
Anger induced stress stimulates the stomach to produces more acids, making us prone for duodenal ulcers. (Often perceived as gastric ulcers.)
Flare-ups of the irritable bowel syndrome are often caused by “colliding” with others, especially if they attempt to “get even”.
From super sensitive to feeling depressed
Because the body is in “survival mode”, all our senses are heightened, making us more sensitive to noise, light, smells, even to touch.
Long-term hormonal imbalances affect the body's immune system.
Chronic-angry people battle frequent colds and flu's, infections, asthma attacks, flare-ups of skin diseases, and diseases like arthritis.
Hostile, angry people often try to find a substitute for their unhappiness by overeating, smoking, and drinking too much alcohol. They are prone to depression, which may trigger even more angry responses.
Knowing all the health hazards of being angry and having to deal with the possible physical consequences, may help us to think before we are on the verge of becoming angry.
Unfortunately, it usually doesn't work that way.
