Colère, stress, cœur et bonne ou mauvaise respiration : des idées pour prolonger et sauver des vies

"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger." -Buddha

Two studies build on earlier evidence that anger and stress produce physiological events that greatly increase the risk of heart disease and heart attack. The star of 'Network", a movie about the manipulations and deceptions of network television repeatedly performed an excellent rendition of someone who was "mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore". His wife accepted his Oscar posthumously. He had died of a heart attack. Maybe even "acting" angry can kill you.  

Johns Hopkins’ researchers found quick-tempered young men had triple the risk of premature heart disease and early heart attack. Following 1,000 medical students at Johns Hopkins between 1948 and 1694, the follow up report on these physicians found that 35 percent of the “angry” men had developed cardiovascular disease with average onset at 56.

The study author, Dr. Patricia Chang, reports that anger causes a stress-related release of hormones that constricts blood vessels, putting extra stress on the heart, increasing the risk of heart disease and, eventually, heart attack.

At a recent American Heart Assn. Scientific Forum, University of North Carolina researchers demonstrated long-term anger and fatigue together form a type of stress that greatly increases risk of heart attack.

From 1990 to 1998, 12,453 men and women were tracked. Those scoring highest on either “anger” or “fatigue” were 42 percent more likely to have a heart attack; high scores on both were 69 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack. Physician's Weekly May 13, 2002 Vol. XIX, No. 20.  Ritalin is NOT the answer

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves." -Carl Jung

Healthy anger is just that, healthy; A release of pent up negative emotions. But most of anger is unhealthy because it stresses and leads to furthering of negative actions and reactions. Unhealthy or excessive anger often contains a significant element of what Mike calls UDB. 

Never answer an angry word; it is the second one that starts a quarrel. People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.

Road rage can be down right deadly in a lot of ways. We have created a technique to handle road rage. It is included in our Deepest Calm Program

American Psychologist has an excellent article exposing the increasing evidence found in the scientific community regarding violence in the media and violence in society while the media itself ignores, denies or plays down the blinding evidence. The relationship is a strong one.

There is overwhelming evidence that violence in the media does in fact cause violence in children and violence in our society. However, due to a variety of reasons (not the least of which is economic) the news media, both tv news and news periodicals continue to deny the evidence and sway public opinion to allow it to continue unregulated. Buhmand & Anderson (2001). American Psychologist, vol 56(6/7), 477-489.

From Mike: 
I used to facilitate anger workshops. What I learned from them is that:
   
1. The emotion of anger is occasionally appropriate but most often over rated. I've read that Jesus was capable of expressing what I would call healthy anger. Sometimes anger can be looked upon as a luxury that there is no time to indulge in, as when a rational mind is necessary for one's survival or even an entire country's survival (Think Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in the 1960s where JFK said that he did not have time for the luxury of emotion; right action was needed and fast.) . 

2. Many cannot express appropriate anger or any anger at all. Often they can't quietly or firmly just say "no" and overreact or underreact out of fear (Think energy toleration). 
3. Many that learn to express anger overdo it and never learn how harmful it is to their hearts, minds and relationships until they or their relationships die while they are hard at it being "right". His Needs, Her Needs, A great book by Willard F. Harley, Jr. says a lot about that. 

Mike's one sentence rule for handling anger. "For those you disagree with, learn to love them ............. then outlive them. 
Recommendation: Deepest Calm Program