It is a normal emotion to be angry, but when one is beyond their control or is frequently expressed, it can lead to adverse effects on your health. Chronic anger triggers physical responses and psychological responses that damage the vital organs that can lead to serious sicknesses. Below are six diseases that could be caused or aggravated by anger:
1. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Anger increases your blood pressure instantly and substantially in that very moment. This is due to the fact that while experiencing fits of anger, your body secretes stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones increase your heartbeat, through which the blood vessels constrict, hence pushing up your blood pressure. Continued anger maintains one’s blood pressure at a raised level throughout, making him/her susceptible to hypertension, which predisposes individuals to heart disease and stroke.
2. Heart Disease
Uncontrolled anger has the potential to increase one’s risk of developing heart-related diseases. Anger accelerates one’s heartbeat, increasing heart rate, and narrowing of the blood vessels; this makes the heart less capable of effectively pumping your blood. Long-term effects on the cardiovascular system from this stress might result in disorders such as arrhythmia, heart attack, or any other heart complication.
3. Gastric Ulcers
Anger has a negative effect on the digestive system. Stress associated with anger stimulates the release of stomach acids that can erode the lining of the stomach and cause ulcers. Long-term emotional stress, which may be associated with anger, can also delay the healing of existing ulcers, thereby worsening the condition.
4. Stroke
Frequent bouts of anger double the risk of stroke. Anger, as a rule, makes blood pressure surge and may thus lead to blood vessel damage. High blood pressure can promote blood clots that may block the arteries supplying blood to the brain, which may cause a stroke.
5. Insomnia
Anger, when it has become chronic, will disturb your sleep patterns. If there is something on your mind that remains unsettled or if you have held grudges against somebody, it is hard to relax and sleep. Poor quality sleep, on the other hand, may exacerbate anger, creating a self-reinforcing cycle contributing to insomnia and exhaustion.
6. Depression
Anger can even lead to depression if left unmanaged. Depositing all that perpetual anger inside you causes mental strain and emotional exhaustion such that eventually you get overwhelmed. Repressed anger, more so, may show up as sadness, hopelessness, and isolating yourself from others, adding to the development or worsening of depression.
Conclusion
It is true that anger is one of the strongest emotions; however, if it keeps building up without control, then serious health problems are likely to arise. There is a need to manage anger through techniques like relaxation exercises, counseling, and physical activities in order to keep the individual emotionally and physically fit. Remember that frequent and intense feelings of anger not only impact your mental health but can also lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and depression.
