Anger can 'increase risk of heart attack'

Angry outbursts can result in strokes, heart attacks and cardiovascular complications taking place in the two hours following, according to new research. Within the first ever study to evaluate previous research performed into the link between heart complications and extreme emotion, scientists found that moments of anger increase the chance of suffering cardiac events.

Published online in the 'European Heart Journal', the study found that for two hours after an outburst of anger, the risk of heart attack or acute coronary syndrome increased by almost 4.74 per cent. The risk of having a stroke rose by 3.62 per cent, while the chances of developing ventricular arrhythmia also increased compared to periods when a person was not angry.

The total risk experienced grew if people had a history of cardiovascular complications or other existing risk factors, such as being angry more frequently.

Dr Elizabeth Mostofsky, an instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health, said: "Although the risk of experiencing an acute cardiovascular event with any single outburst of anger is relatively low, the risk can accumulate for people with frequent episodes of anger. This is particularly important for people who have higher risk due to other underlying risk factors or those who have already had a heart attack, stroke or diabetes. 

"For example, a person without many risk factors for cardiovascular disease, who has only one episode of anger per month, has a very small additional risk, but a person with multiple risk factors or a history of heart attack or stroke, and who is frequently angry, has a much higher absolute excess risk accumulated over time." 

Researchers found that around one extra heart attack could be experienced for every 10,000 people who have a low risk of cardiovascular complications but who experienced anger only once a month. This risk increased to four extra heart attacks among every 10,000 people that were at high risk of cardiovascular problems. 

In addition, those that experienced anger five times a day meant that there was an extra 158 heart attacks per every 10,000 people each year, even with low risk of heart issues. This further increased to an extra 657 attacks per 10,000 people among those that are at high risk for cardiovascular problems.