Have you ever experienced anger outbursts that make your blood boil? Anger is normal, but getting angry frequently can cause serious health implications.

Researchers have found that anger has a role in causing hypertension. When your blood pressure is consistently higher (140/90mm Hg or more) than the normal value, this condition is called hypertension. If you continue having long-term uncontrolled anger issues, you might develop hypertension and a risk of heart disease. (Titova et al., 2022)

Do you want to know the connection between anger and blood pressure? Then, this article is worth a read! Scroll down to know all!

●Anger is a normal human emotion and has some positive impacts. But if you’re experiencing it frequently, it might develop hypertension. Researchers have found that anger has a positive relation with hypertension. Only a 1% increase in anger causes a 12% increase in the risk of developing hypertension. In the US, hypertension was responsible for approximately 670,000 deaths in 2020.

●How does anger cause an increase in blood pressure? When you get angry, it activates the fight or flight response of the body. Due to the production of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, heart rate increases. As a result, blood flow increases, causing blood vessels to become tightened. This tension increases over time, and that’s when hypertension occurs. (Onyedibe et al., 2020)

●Individuals with chronic anger problems are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. A sudden increase in catecholamines during fits of anger can lead to a heart attack. They may also affect the arteries, leading to arterial plaque. It can result in coronary heart disease. Other heart problems, such as cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and lethal heart rhythms, can also occur.

According to a well-known cardiologist, Dave Montgomery, “If you’ve got a destructive reaction to anger, you’re more likely to have heart attacks.”

●Those people who get angry are 19% more likely to develop heart disease as compared to calmer people. So, if anger has you in its crosshairs, it's time to change how you respond.

●Another research to find the relation between anger and heart disease suggests that the risk of heart attack and angina increases nearly five-fold by 3.74 times two hours after an anger episode.

●All these studies indicate that anger and heart disease are interconnected but not directly linked. (Mohebi et al., 2018)

●In patients with heart failure, anger is associated with worsening LV diastolic pressure. Repeated anger fits may have implications for long-term outcomes. (Kim et al., 2020)

Hypertension is the major cause of death worldwide. It affects nearly 116 million adults in the US. Here, we will discuss tips to help you cool the flames of anger and lower your blood pressure. (Carey et al., 2022)

Lifestyle modification

It is the first-line therapy for anger and hypertension management. It would be best if you adopted the following healthy behaviors:

●Maintain a healthy weight.

●Include Potassium supplements in your routine.

●Reduce dietary sodium intake.

●Avoid smoking.

●Refrain from alcohol consumption.

●Manage your stress.

●Make a habit of writing journals during anger outbursts.

Exercise

Regular exercise is the best way to cope with anger issues and hypertension. Your body produces stress-relieving hormones that improve overall health and reduce stress levels. Go for a walk and enjoy physical activities as fun.

Regular monitoring of BP

Keeping track of your blood pressure by monitoring at home is a good practice. The most reliable home blood pressure monitor is the Checkme BP2A Blood Pressure Monitor.

Yoga and meditation

Deep breathing can act as a relaxation mechanism for your body. Use different relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation to control your anger. Research has found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) can reduce anger, stress, and hypertension.

Consult your doctor

When you experience uncontrolled anger outbursts, it's better to get the help of a psychologist. They help you to ignore triggers that cause anger and prescribe medications to treat hypertension.

1.Does anger have any effect on blood pressure?

Anger doesn’t have any direct link with blood pressure. However, frequent anger outbursts can increase your blood pressure. Adrenal glands flood your blood with stress hormones that increase the heart rate and cause hypertension.

2.Is there any link between anger and cardiovascular diseases?

Several types of research carried out to understand the relationship between anger and heart disease suggest that anger increases the risk of CVD. People who experience extreme anger outbursts are at higher risk of developing coronary heart diseases, atrial fibrillation, and mortality.

3.Can anger cause a heart attack?3.Can anger cause a heart attack?

Anger increases the risk of heart attack by 8 times. It can evoke triggers such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cardiomyopathy that result in a heart attack.

Anger not only affects your heart, but it has a significant impact on your overall health. Various research suggests that anger increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Hopefully, this article has addressed all the information you sought! Get yourself a Checkme BP2A Blood Pressure Monitor today, and keep a regular check on your blood pressure.

1.Carey, R. M., Moran, A. E., & Whelton, P. K. (2022). Treatment of Hypertension: A Review. JAMA, 328(18), 1849–1861. 

2.Kim, A. S., Jang, M. H., Park, K. H., & Min, J. Y. (2020). Effects of self-efficacy, depression, and anger on health-promoting behaviors of Korean older women with hypertension. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 1–14. 

3.Mohebi, S., Parham, M., Sharifirad, G., & Gharlipour, Z. (2018). Social Support and Self-Care Behavior Study. January 1–6. 

4.Onyedibe, M. C. C., Ibeagha, P. N., & Onyishi, I. E. (2020). Distress tolerance moderates the relationship between anger experience and elevated blood pressure. South African Journal of Psychology, 50(1), 39–53. 

5.Titova, O. E., Baron, J. A., Michaëlsson, K., & Larsson, S. C. (2022). Anger frequency and risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. European Heart Journal Open, 2(4), 1–8.

6.Tezuka, K., Kubota, Y., Ohira, T., Muraki, I., Hayama-Terada, M., Shimizu, Y., Imano, H., Shirai, K., Okada, T., Kiyama, M., & Iso, H. (2023). Modifying Effect of Outdoor Recreational Activity on the Association Between Anger Expression and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The Circulatory Risk in Communities Study. Psychosomatic medicine, 85(2), 182–187. 

7.Everson, S. A., Goldberg, D. E., Kaplan, G. A., Julkunen, J., & Salonen, J. T. (1998). Anger expression and incident hypertension. Psychosomatic medicine, 60(6), 730–735.