The phrase “anger kills” might have a more literal meaning: new research suggests a possible reason frequent anger has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study, published Wednesday in the, emphasises the potential health risks associated with intense anger and illuminates the influence of negative emotions on our overall wellbeing.
According to Daichi Shimbo, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Centre and the lead study author, this research marks a step toward understanding how different negative emotions particularly affect physical health. Brian Choi, a cardiologist and professor of medicine and radiology at George Washington University, says findings like these could prompt healthcare providers to investigate therapies such as anger management to see if they could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, an estimated 17 per cent of Australians have experienced an anxiety disorder in the last 12 months. The 2020–2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing estimated that 43 per cent of the population has experience mental illness at some point in their life. Both anxiety and depression can often be expressed as anger.