Health tips

Anger and Your Heart



Proverbs teaches, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.”
Researchers at Harvard and Michigan Universities have found a strong association
between anger and an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes.

Anger can range from mild irritation or annoyance to rage and fury. Tip-offs
that anger may be undermining your health include being stubborn, impatient or
hotheaded and habitually feeling like you want to hit someone or something.

Certainly life is filled with frustrating experiences and a certain amount of
anger is normal, but how you cope with it seems to have more bearing on
cardiovascular health.

To diffuse anger and minimize its stress:

• Recognize the signs of anger and diffuse them before they overwhelm you,
  
  take deep breaths or talk to a friend


• Identify and avoid situations that trigger your anger


• Practice a relaxation technique


• Exercise to work off the stress


• Talk with your pastor or other Christian counselor about your
  anger/frustrations

Low dose aspirin may also offset the negative effects of anger, but see your
doctor before you start. So,

be mighty healthy and control your response to angry feelings.



~ Loretta Teter, Parish Nurse