Angry outbursts cause fivefold increase in heart attack risk

Getting angry can increase your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke by up to five times researchers say as they suggest prescribing statins and beta blockers to those prone to outbursts
People who lose their temper are nearly five times more likely to have a heart attack and more than three times more likely to suffer a stroke within two hours of an outburst, researchers have found.

In the first study of its kind, experts found the risk of cardiac arrest increases dramatically among people with existing heart problems who get angry many times a day, although the risk can still increase among those who lose their temper less frequently and have better heart health.

To counter the risk, people should be prescribed statins and anti-depressants as well as anger management therapy by doctors who check their levels of rage and frustration.

Harvard School of Public Health looked at thousands of health records to see what effect getting angry had on the risks.

Dr Murray Mittleman suggested doctors should be checking patients’ anger levels when making health assessments and prescribe drugs or encourage therapy to reduce the risk.