Medical Report: How anger affects your health

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Our blood vessels are lined by specialized cells called endothelial cells. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a great deal of research was conducted looking at these cells and the impact the virus had on them by increasing inflammation and damaging them.

Many have theorized that damage to these cells helped lead to a wide range of symptoms. A new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that it isn't just viruses like COVID-19 that can affect these cells. Negative emotions can have an impact as well.

The report found that just eight minutes of anger can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Chronic anger — repeated events causing an angry response — appears to have not only a short-term impact but what is seen as potentially irreversible damage to the blood vessels and our overall health.

Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.

​​KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.

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