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How people cope with their anger could have a serious effect on their health. Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines, host of HealthDay TV. Experts are familiar with the connection between anger and heart problems. For example, anger may put people at higher risk of developing coronary artery disease. New research offers evidence that certain methods of handling anger may be worse than others when it comes to heart health.
In a recent study from the American Journal of Cardiology, European researchers followed 644 patients with coronary artery disease. This condition is marked by buildup of plaque in the arteries feeding the heart. All of the participants answered questions about their personality and how they dealt with anger.
Suppressed anger linked to 2.87 times greater odds of heart attack, cardiac death.
Those who suppressed their anger were nearly three times as likely to have a heart attack or heart-related death in the following years. People with the so-called "Type D" personality were four times as likely to suppress their anger. People with this personality type often experience negative emotions and tend to be more inhibited when they're in social settings.
