Too much anger can kill you, Study says

Rebecca Lewis October 08, 2015

Have short temper? It’s time that you explore strategies to loosen up a bit when stressful moments strike. New research shows getting angry may actually shorten your lifespan.

In the latest study, scientists found that men who had admitted they had a short fuse when questioned around the age of 35 were more likely to be dead 35 years later than those who were less quick to anger. Those who are on the top 25 per cent of the angriest respondents had a 1.57-fold increase in their risk of dying early compared to the calmest 25 per cent.

The relationship remained robust after taking into account factors such as income, marital status and whether or not they smoked.

While the new study didn’t examine why the angriest were more likely to die earlier, they said previous studies had ‘linked anger with a variety of negative physiological processes’. These include atherosclerosis - a condition wherein the arteries become clogged up by fatty substances called ‘plaques’. It can lead to ‘serious and potentially fatal health events such as heart attack’ the researchers said.

The study involves data from a nationally representative sample of 1,307 male heads of the household who had been followed from 1968 until 2007.

Between 1968 and 1972 the men had been questioned annually about their anger levels: whether they ‘get angry fairly easily’ or whether it ‘takes a lot to get them angry’ and each man’s score was averaged for the five years. Participants were between 20 and 40 when first questioned, with an average age in 1972 of 34 and a half.

Being in the top quartile for anger is associated with a 1.57-fold increase in the risk of dying at follow-up compared with those in the bottom quartile,’ the researchers concluded.

It is natural for anyone to feel angry. But too much anger is a form of stress which increases cortisol levels in the bloodstream. The spikes in cortisol levels can lead to various diseases, including heart disease.

Practising anger management strategies and seeking professional help when needed, are key steps to learn how to control anger.

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Is your bad temper KILLING you? Angry men are more likely to die before the age of 70, study claims