Feelings of anger and anxiety hike the risk of a heart attack by nearly 10 percent, a new study suggests.
Although scientists have always known that stressful emotions like anger and anxiety raise heart risk, they have always taken a backseat to concerns like high cholesterol or diabetes.
In the new study, Australian researchers found that in some people anxiety can increase heart attack risk by 9.5-fold and anger can raise it 8.5-fold.
“Our findings confirm what has been suggested in prior studies and anecdotal evidence, even in films -- that episodes of intense anger can act as a trigger for a heart attack," said lead author Dr. Thomas Buckley of the University of Sydney.
The most common causes of angry outbursts were arguments with others (42 percent) and family members (29 percent). Anger over work and driving tied at 14 percent each, the study found.
When people are under stress, their heart rate increases and their blood pressure goes up, which can tighten blood vessels and lead to the formation of heart attack-causing blood clots, Dr. Buckley said
Although the overall risk of an anger-trigger heart attack was relatively low -- only about 2 percent -- the data demonstrates that the issue should be taken seriously, said Dr. Buckley, who plans a further trial to determine whether taking aspirin or beta blockers at the time of the emotions could lower the risk.
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