To Your Health: Dangerous Emotions Part 2

By Cheryl Wade, MD, PC

Cheryl D. Wade, MD, PC

We now have a rudimentary understanding of the continuum of consciousness that is the mind-body.  The limbic system of the brain, the seat of emotions and instinctual behavior, communicates with the other two regulators, the hormonal and immune systems via neuro-peptides and hormones to transform emotions into chemical and physical reactions and vice versa. 

In order to deepen our understanding of the mind-body connection we can group in a very general way certain personality traits into personality Types.  It is well accepted that some personalities have a propensity for very specific diseases and disorders. 

In his book, “Deadly Emotions, Understanding the Mind-Body-Spirit Connection that can Heal or Destroy You”,  Dr. Don Colbert cites a study done at Duke University in 1980 by Dr. Redfield and Associates. 

Dr. Redfield’s study titled  “Type A Personality, Hostility, and Atherosclerosis” showed that persons who scored high on personality tests for hostility had a correspondingly increased severity of coronary artery disease. 

The study grouped hostile responses into emotions, attitudes, and behaviors.  The main hostile emotion was anger, the attitude was a mistrust of the motives of others or cynicism, and the behavior was aggression. 

In very simple terms, hostility is a dangerous emotion.  It causes a hardening of the heart which is the essence of atherosclerosis. The heart becomes encased in a shell of calcified arteries and afflicted with the pain of angina. 

Given that coronary artery disease is the #1 killer of men and women in the United States it seems that we all have a lesser or greater degree of hostility. Dr. Colbert points to studies that indicate up to 20% of the population has hostility levels dangerous to health. 

As we consume a steady diet of network news, talk shows, internet, and radio we are immersed in levels of hostility on a day to day basis that are truly alarming and pervasive and it is no wonder considering how stressful life has become.  

Hostility is one of the main adaptive mechanisms that people may fall into given their experience of life. Hostility and anger are reactions to feelings of powerlessness and loss of control of one’s life. Other personality types may react to the same experiences with different emotions such as depression or apathy. 

How does hostility transform into heart disease?  By the release of stress hormones that cause powerful reactions within the body. Epinephrine, formerly known as Adrenaline is one of the most powerful of these stress hormones.  

Hostile people are angry and seem to release more adrenaline than other personalities.  Adrenaline prepares the body to either fight or run for it’s live. All systems are pumped up and ready.  

In order to run or fight our hearts beat harder and faster and our blood vessels constrict and blood pressure rises.  We need fuel and Adrenaline pours sugar, and fat into the blood stream.  To protect against death from injury and blood loss, our kidneys retain salt and water and our blood platelets become sticky and ready to initiate blood clotting. 

This scenario causes hypertension and hardening of the arteries of the heart.  Every time the heart beats, blood is ejected to the rest of the body while the coronary arteries are squeezed shut by the pressure of the heart, The heart itself must wait for relaxation of its contraction before the coronary arteries can open and receive nourishing blood for itself. 

A persistent high pulsing pressure on the very delicate lining of the heart’s coronary arteries cause strain and tears which then cause a cascade of reactions. Platelets, white cells and cholesterol, rush in and form a patch over the injury.  

Over the long term this patch can become a permanent part of the vessel wall reducing the volume of blood that gets through the sticky patch, and attracting calcium and other minerals.  Calcium may fragment downstream to coronary arteries causing acute myocardial infarction or to the brain causing acute stroke. 

The calcium that becomes embedded in the walls of the arteries cause the opening to become narrowed and reduce blood flow.  When Adrenaline kicks in and the heart starts to beat harder and faster it needs more oxygen but the coronary arteries cannot compensate for increased demand with increased flow and so the heart experiences the pain of lack of oxygen and nutrients with a corresponding build up of acid.  

Think of the high incidence of stroke, heart attack, angina, anger, and hostility in our communities and their effect on our lives. A husband finds out that his wife is having an affair and goes into a rage of anger and hostility. He either beats and kills his wife or ends up in the Emergency Room with chest pain, and heart attack. 

In fact hostility is a better predictor of coronary artery disease than other risk factors such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, drinking, and high levels of LDL cholesterol according to an article published in Health Psychology Vol. 21 No 6. 

In addition, life long patterns of hostility and anger can cause early death. See Dr. John Barefoot  et al in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine entitled “Hostility CHD Incidence in Total Mortality- a 25 Year follow up study of 255 Physicians”.   

Not modifying destructive anger and hostility can result in early death. Those individuals who scored higher for hostility on standard personality tests were five times more likely to die from heart disease than their less hostile classmates. 

As previously stated most of us have some degree of anger and hostility. We can literally become pressure cookers of pent up rage waiting to explode at any moment. So how do we protect ourselves from heart attack, hypertension, palpitations, and stroke? 

The first step involves recognition. Look yourself in the mirror and take this test at http://www.psychologistworld.com/stress/angertest.php. See where you fit on the anger scale. 

It you tend to live in hostility and anger as an adaptive mechanism you may need to consciously explore ways and means to choose more healthy coping mechanisms. 

Some people, like myself use exercise, such as yoga, running, and swimming to de- stress and release powerful brain neuro-peptides such as endorphins to help calm and soothe the emotions.  

Some people may choose prayer or meditation or counseling.  Make your own choice as to what works best for you and make a commitment to a lifelong practice.  

It is vital to remember that psychological coping mechanisms are incorporated into our psyche unconsciously and it may be impossible to completely eradicate these patterns from our lives.  

The good news is if we become aware of  patterns of anger and hostility we can recognize when they occur and with practice and help learn healthier choices such as patience for life’s vicissitudes and gratitude for a life well lived.

(Editor’s Note: The information in this article represents the opinion of the author and is not intended to be construed as an endorsement or promotion by Crucians In Focus of any of the information herein.)

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