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This article is part of All the Rage, an editorial package that digs into the science of anger.
Amrita Marino
SELF will be publishing new articles for this series all week.Read more here.
Most of us get angry, to some degree, on a regular basis.
When youre hit with anger, your brain evaluates whether the situation is potentially threatening to your health.
Your body then pumps out hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, triggering the physical effects mentioned above.
Meanwhile, anything thats not considered essential to your immediate survivalsuch as your digestive systemslows way down.
Anger is evolutionarily seen as a very important emotion.
If its well expressed, its fine.
Its there for a reason, and its good for our survival.
How much anger is too much?
Its okay to suppress anger momentarilyas long as you cope with your feelings eventually.
There are always situations in real life that make you feel irritated.
As long as it passes, its fine, Dr. Duijndam says.
Its unhealthy when it starts to take over your life.
Feeling persistent anger primes you for a fightor what psychologists call trait hostility.
You may frequently put people downand criticize everything, she says.
Constant complainers might then get labeled as toxic, adds Dr. Martin.
Ultimately, its yourreactionto anger that influences its possible effects on your health.
Your body was not designed to live in that state for long periods of time, Dr. Martin says.
Its supposed to get you out of a momentary threat.
Your immune system is designed to attack potential threats to your body with inflammatory cells, Dr. Duijndam explains.
With chronic stress, including anger, these markers of inflammation increase as well.
That, in turn, can set the stage for various health issues, especially as you age.
Those unhealthy behaviors will have an impact too, he stresses.
Again, thats because it keeps you in a state of stress.
Reduced lung function
Quick and shallow breathing is one of the first physical effects anger triggers for many people.
But researchers have noted that certain emotions may impact your overall lung health as well.
The men also had several lung function tests over an eight-year period.
If its not expressed, anger can definitely lead to muscle tension, Dr. Duijndam stresses.
And becoming a bundle of bad vibes can trigger achiness or serious pain.
Nociplastic pain, on the other hand, activates parts of the brain involved in regulating emotions.
Skin flare-ups
Similar to the gut, theskin may also react to emotional stress.
Noticing and naming anger can help reduce the risk of its long-term effects.
And dont rely on catharsis for relief; anger just begets more anger.
But we have 50 years of research to say its not just ineffective, but its bad for you.
It increases anger and the likelihood of acting aggressive later on.
