Anger and Heart Attack

Q: My husband has quite a temper. I'm worried that if he doesn't calm down, he's going to have a heart attack. What can I do?

A: Studies have linked anger, hostility, and other emotions to the development of heart disease. Anger may also trigger atrial fibrillation (a type of heart rhythm abnormality) or a heart attack in people who already have heart disease. However, at this time, there isn’t enough scientific data to conclude that reducing the frequency, intensity, or duration of these emotions will lower heart-disease risk.

It may be helpful for your husband to seek psychological counseling to learn how to handle anger—people who are experiencing psychological stress such as anger may indulge in risky behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating. Plus, they may not make eating healthfully and getting adequate exercise a priority in their lives. 

Jennifer H. Mieres, M.D., is director of nuclear cardiology and associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University. She’s also a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.