Study tantrums increase heart attack risk

Study: Frequent tantrums increase heart attack risk

06/04/2014

According to a US study, a heated temperament could significantly increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. According to Harvard School of Public Health researchers, anger often precedes a seizure and could be a trigger for it.

An attack is often preceded by anger
A heated temperament could significantly increase the risk of a heart attack or a stroke, according to a US study. Anger is by and large predictable for the scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health in the state of Massachusetts. The research team led by Elizabeth Mostofsky has therefore identified a dangerous period of about two hours after a rage in which the risk is highest. However, further studies are needed to further explore this relationship and also to find out if stress management strategies can prevent such complications.

Risk of seizure increases significantly in the two hours after a rage
Particularly affected are people with existing risk factors and those who have had an infarction or stroke and for those suffering from diabetes. The risk of a heart attack increased almost fivefold in the two hours following an onset of rage and the risk of stroke increased more than threefold. This resulted in the analysis of nine surveys with several thousand participants. Converted to the population, the risk of a single tantrum is relatively low and is a heart attack per 10,000 people a year. These numbers are for people with a low cardiac risk who have a rage only once a month. However, this value increases by the number four in people at high cardiovascular risk. In addition, the risk is rising.

Risk low with a single outburst
According to this calculation, five occasions a day to get angry would lead to 158 additional heart attacks per 10,000 people in people at low risk. However, this value increases to 657 if the risk is high. Although Mostofsky's risk is relatively low in a single tantrum, the risk can be significantly increased for those people who experience a temper tantrum over and over again. However, the study has not yet clarified why tantrums increase the risk of seizure. As the scientists point out, the results do not necessarily mean that anger leads to heart and circulatory problems. It is known, however, that chronic stress can play a role in heart disease. Responsible for this are an increase in blood pressure and an unhealthy handling of stress from smoking or too much alcohol.

Relaxation procedure against tantrums
Several US specialists have therefore long ago recommended a global approach to „chronic mental stress“ to reduce. Also, Italian scientists at the Institute of Clinical Physiology in Pisa, years ago, in a ten-year long-term study, have shown that negative emotions such as aggression, depression, hostility and anger have a negative effect on the heart. Many people who get angry too often can use a variety of relaxation techniques, such as autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation. (Ad)