A new study suggests getting angry might be bad for your heart.
Scientists in the US found that short bursts of anger can damage blood vessels, which could increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. This effect lasted for up to 40 minutes after the anger subsided.
The researchers studied over 280 people with an average age of 26. They measured blood vessel function and then asked people to recall a time they were angry, listened to sad stories, or did a neutral task. Only anger caused a noticeable decline in blood vessel health.
While the exact reason for this isn’t clear, the study suggests it’s important to manage anger. Taking a deep breath and calming down next time you’re upset could be good for your heart health.