Women who outwardly express their anger, instead of suppressing it, may be at increased risk for coronary artery disease according to a study released late last year. The study was aimed at determining if any relationship existed between anger and hostility and the presence of blocked arteries in women. Previous studies had shown a positive relationship in men.
Researchers in Maryland enrolled about 630 women in a study aimed at providing more information about chest pain and symptoms of heart disease in women. Women were enrolled and answered questions about their emotions including issues with anger and how they expressed their emotions. Each woman also underwent an angiography, a procedure that looks for blockages in the main coronary ateries supplying blood to heart.
The results of the study were published in the December issue of the Journal of Women's Health.
They found that women who outwardly expresesd their anger, and who had previous risk factors for heart disease were most likely to have blockages in their coronary arteries. Women who had risk factors for heart disease but did not outwardly express their anger were not as likely to have blockages.
However, symptom severity was not associated with artery blockage, but was associated with anger expression. The women who were the most hostile had the most severe symptoms, but not necessarily any relationship with evidence for coronary artery disease.
So the authors believe that anger, whether related to blockages or not, may significantly impact symptoms of heart disease. The primary complaints associated with anger include sharp chest pain, pressure in the chest, or heaviness.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on March 29, 2007 12:16 PM
