How We React To Anger
How you react to feeling angry depends on lots of things, including:
- the situation you are in at the moment if you’re dealing with lots of problems or stress in your life, you may find it harder to control your anger
- your family history you may have learned unhelpful ways of dealing with anger from the adults around you when you were a child
- events in your past if you have experienced events that made you angry but felt you couldn’t express your anger, you may still be coping with those angry feelings
Some people express anger verbally, by shouting. Sometimes this can be aggressive, involving swearing, threats or name-calling.
Some people react violently and lash out physically, hitting other people, pushing them or breaking things. This can be particularly damaging and frightening for other people.
Some of us show anger is passive ways, for example, by ignoring people or sulking.
Other people may hide their anger or turn it against themselves. They can be very angry on the inside but feel unable to let it out.
People who tend to turn anger inwards may harm themselves as a way of coping with the intense feelings they have. Young people are most likely to self harm.
Include Foods Rich In Potassium In Your Diet
- If your blood potassium is too low, blood pressure may increase. Including potassium-rich foods in your diet may help manage high blood pressure.
- High-potassium foods include salt substitutes, bananas, dried fruits, skim milk, coffee and potatoes.
- If you take a diuretic to control your blood pressure, it is important to have your doctor check your blood potassium level during your regular check-ups. You may need to take a potassium supplement to keep your blood potassium within the normal range.
- Talk with your doctor about including potassium-rich foods in your diet. Some medical conditions , may require you to LIMIT the amount of potassium in your diet.
- A registered dietitian can give you more information about foods rich in potassium.
- The DASH study looked at the impact of foods on high blood pressure. The study results indicate that people who: increased calcium intake to more than 1200 mg/day, lowered fats to less than 26% of calories, and increased fiber, potassium and magnesium in their diets each day decreased systolic blood pressure by 5.5 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 3.0 mm Hg.
- In people with high blood pressure, the systolic blood pressure decreased by 11.4 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure decreased by 5.5 mm Hg.
S To Lowering Your Blood Pressure
The first line of treatment for high blood pressure is to make healthy lifestyle changes:
Its also important to take any antihypertensive medications your doctor recommends. There are many different types of medications available to control high blood pressure, so if one drug causes unpleasant side effects, your doctor can help you find a more suitable one.
Even if your doctor also prescribes you medication to help tackle hypertension, controlling your weight, quitting smoking, improving your diet, managing stress, and getting regular exercise are critical for keeping your heart in shape and managing your blood pressure over the long term.
If youve just been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or have suffered a serious health event such as a stroke or heart attack, you may be experiencing a great deal of emotional upheaval. Its important to give yourself time to process the change in your health and be kind to yourself as you adjust to your new situation. But its also important to know there are plenty of things you can do to come to terms with your diagnosis and regain control of your health.
Don’t Miss: Can Constipation Cause High Blood Pressure
Making The Exercise Habit Stick
Despite our best intentions, many of us struggle ditching our sedentary lifestyle. But there are steps you can take to make exercise less intimidating and more fun.
Start small and build momentum. If exercising for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week sounds overwhelming, set a smaller goal and gradually build up as you gain self-confidence and momentum.
Reward yourself. Once it becomes a regular habit, exercise will reward you with more energy, better sleep, a greater sense of well-being, and improved cardiovascular health. When youre starting out, though, give yourself a simple reward for successfully completing a workout, such as having a hot bath or a favorite cup of coffee.
Choose activities you enjoy. Youre more likely to stick with a workout you find pleasurable. If you hate running but like yoga or dancing, for example, dont force yourself onto the treadmill every day. Pick activities that fit your lifestyle, abilities, and taste.
See How to Start Exercising and Stick to It to learn more.
The effects on your blood pressure
- 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking, for five days of the week can reduce your reading by 4 to 11 mm Hg.
How Does Hypertension Affect Your Mental Health
Just getting a diagnosis of hypertension can make you feel anxious. But its important to know that with adequate treatment, you can get your blood pressure under control and protect your heart and mental health. Having high blood pressure doesnt mean that youre destined to die of a heart attack or stroke.
Researchers have explored the connection between high blood pressure and mental health and found that it can affect your mental health in the following ways:
Also Check: How To Lower Blood Pressure Asap
What Anger Does To Your Heart
As blood pressure becomes higher it also puts a considerable strain on the heart. Adrenaline is a vasodilator which means that it causes blood vessels to expand in order to allow a higher volume of blood to pass through. Physiologically this becomes beneficial, because it also means that all the tissues in the system will receive a higher ratio of oxygen, and this fuels faster cell metabolism, which can manifest as:
- Faster reaction time
- Better strength and stamina
However, these benefits should naturally subside one the trigger to the stress reaction has passed, and this lowers the blood pressure and also slows the heart rate. For people with anger management issues, the impact of a continuous stress reaction also means that the heart is steadily trying to move a greater volume of blood at all times. The results of this ongoing strain to the heart are the same as for any muscle:
One of the concerns for overall wellbeing is that the fatigue and falter stages may not be immediately evident, and the development of a chronic heart condition, ongoing high blood pressure, and cardiac disease are all possible before the issue is addressed. Further concerns are that developed conditions in the heart and blood vessels can be managed, but are not always reversible if they are too far along.
Teaching Children How To Express Anger
Expressing anger appropriately is a learned behaviour. Suggestions on helping your child to deal with strong feelings include:
- Lead by example.
- Let them know that anger is natural and should be expressed appropriately.
- Treat your childs feelings with respect.
- Teach practical problem-solving skills.
You May Like: What Does Diastolic Blood Pressure Measure
About This Hypertension And Emotion Research News
Do Hypertensive Men Spy With an Angry Little Eye? Anger Recognition in Men With Essential Hypertension Cross-sectional and Prospective Findings
Background
Higher trait anger has inconsistently been associated with hypertension and hypertension development, but social context in terms of recognition of other persons anger has been neglected in this context.
Purpose
Here, we investigated anger recognition of facial affect and trait anger in essential hypertensive and normotensive men in addition to prospective associations with blood pressure increases.
Methods
Baseline assessment comprised a total of 145 participants including 57 essential hypertensive and 65 normotensive men who were otherwise healthy and medication-free. Seventy-two eligible participants additionally completed follow-up assessment 3.1 years later to analyze BP changes over time. We assessed emotion recognition of facial affect with a paradigm displaying mixed facial affect of two morphed basic emotions including anger, fear, sadness, and happiness. Trait anger was assessed with the Spielberger trait anger scale.
Results
Our findings indicate an anger recognition bias in men with essential hypertension and that overrating displayed anger in combination with higher trait anger seems to predict future BP increases. This might be of clinical relevance for the development and progression of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Reducing Your Salt Intake
The American Heart Association recommends no more than a teaspoon of salt a day for adults. That may sound alarmingly small, but there are many painless ways to reduce your sodium intake.
Reduce canned and processed foods. Much of the salt you eat comes from canned or processed foods like soups, convenience meals, and fast food.
Cook more meals at home. Preparing your own meals gives you more control over your sodium intake. Use fresh ingredients whenever possible and cook without salt.
Use spices as alternatives to salt. Try fresh herbs like basil, thyme, or chives, or dried spices such as allspice, bay leaves, or cumin to flavor your meal without sodium.
Substitute reduced sodium versions. Choose your condiments and packaged foods carefully, looking for foods labeled sodium free, low sodium, or unsalted.
See Heart-Healthy Diet Tips to learn more.
The effects on your blood pressure
- Adopting the DASH diet, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, and reducing your consumption of unhealthy fats can lower your blood pressure by about 11 mm Hg.
- Cutting back on sodium by about 1,000 mg per day can reduce your blood pressure by 5 to 6 mm Hg.
- Increasing your potassium intake from food to 3,500-5,000 mg can knock 4 to 5 mm Hg off your reading.
- Limiting your alcohol intake to two drinks per day if youre male, or one drink per day if youre female can lower your reading by about 4 mm Hg.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Icd 10 Code For Hypertension
The Difference Between Anger And Aggression
Some people see anger and aggression as the same thing. In fact, anger is an emotion that we feel while aggression is how some of us behave when we feel angry.
Not everyone who feels angry is aggressive, and not everyone who acts aggressively is angry. Sometimes people behave aggressively because they feel afraid or threatened.
Read more about anxiety, fear and controlling your anger.
Alcohol and some illegal drugs can make people act more aggressively.
If uncontrolled anger leads to domestic violence, or threatening behaviour within your home, talk to your GP or contact a domestic violence organisation such as Refuge,Scottish Women’s Aid, Abused Men in Scotland, The LGBT Domestic Abuse Project or Survivor Scotland.
High Blood Pressure Can Make You Emotion
People with high blood pressure have more trouble than others in picking up emotional cues, a new study finds.
Researchers reported that people with high blood pressure were less reactive when shown photographs and text passages meant to trigger emotions including fear, anger and happiness.
This weakened response could be called “emotional dampening,” said James McCubbin, a psychology professor at Clemson University in South Carolina, who led the study.
Giving an example of how people try to manage the emotional responses of other people, McCubbin said, “When we send an email and try to make a joke, we need to use a smiley face to tell a reader it’s a joke so they don’t misinterpret it and get angry.”
However, “people with emotional dampening may have a hard time recognizing emotions,” he said. For instance, at work they might think their boss is kidding when he is actually showing his anger.
Previous studies linked high blood pressure to a reduced ability to perceive negative emotions. The new study also shows a lessened perception of positive emotions , the researchers wrote.
The physiological or mental changes behind this dampening are not yet known, the researchers added.
Blood pressure and emotions
McCubbin’s work was based on data collected from 2000 to 2002. As part of a pilot study called HANDLS , McCubbin and his colleagues measured the blood pressure and emotional responses of 106 African- Americans of low socioeconomic status in Baltimore.
Social implications
Read Also: Best Diet For Blood Pressure
What Can I Do About High Blood Pressure And Anger
People experiencing anger symptoms after a diagnosis of high blood pressure often need to monitor their blood pressure levels and adjust medications as needed.
If youre experiencing anger due to high blood pressure, you may need to adjust your treatment plan. To do this, you may need to make lifestyle changes to help your body get back to normal.
Here are a few tips that may help:
- Get regular exercise
Did You Know That You May Feel Angry And Irritable Because Of A Vitamin Deficiency Find Out More
Written by Mita Majumdar | Updated : June 5, 2015 11:00 AM IST
Anger is a normal, healthy emotion and in itself it is not a problem. But when it makes you lose control of your behaviour and rationality, you need to find the reason for your anger and fix the problem. If you or anyone you know is suffering from anger or rage related issues, read on to understand why this happens and what to do about it.
Anger can either be passive or aggressive
Passive anger is difficult to recognize because it is repressed, and you may not even realize you are angry. Counselling is a good way to help you identify the object of your anger and help you deal with it. Here are 5 reasons anger is bad for your health.
Don’t Miss: What Can Naturally Lower Blood Pressure
Take Medications To Control High Blood Pressure As Prescribed
Depending on your blood pressure readings, other risk factors and the presence of other medical conditions, your doctor may prescribe medications to help you reach your blood pressure goal.
There are many different types of blood pressure medications. You will need to work with your doctor to find the best drug to achieve your blood pressure goal with the least side effects.
Tips when taking high blood pressure medications:
- Follow your doctors orders about taking your medications
- Do not stop taking your medications without first talking to your doctor
There are many different types of blood pressure medications. You will need to find the best drug to achieve your blood pressure goal with the least amount of side effects.
When To See A Mental Health Professional
Anger with high blood pressure is a common side effect of the condition. The side effect may be so severe that you need to see a mental health professional.
If youre struggling with anger with high blood pressure, you may benefit from support and treatment from a mental health professional.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Counseling or psychotherapy
You should talk to a mental health professional if you:
- Find it hard to cope with your condition
- Have trouble finding ways to express your feelings
- Have thoughts of suicide
You May Like: Does Food Affect Blood Pressure
What Causes Anger Issues
Many things can trigger anger, including stress, family problems, and financial issues.
For some people, anger is caused by an underlying disorder, such as alcoholism or depression. Anger itself isnt considered a disorder, but anger is a known symptom of several mental health conditions.
The following are some of the possible causes of anger issues.
What Diet Helps Control High Blood Pressure
- Eat foods that are lower in fat, salt and calories, such as skim or 1% milk, fresh vegetables and fruits, and whole-grain rice and pasta.
- Use flavorings, spices and herbs to make foods tasty without using salt. The optimal recommendation for salt in your diet is to have less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. Don’t forget that most restaurant foods and many processed and frozen foods contain high levels of salt. Use herbs and spices that do not contain salt in recipes to flavor your food. Dont add salt at the table.
- Avoid or cut down on foods high in fat or salt, such as butter and margarine, regular salad dressings, fatty meats, whole milk dairy products, fried foods, processed foods or fast foods and salted snacks.
- Ask your provider if you should increase potassium in your diet. Discuss the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet with your provider. The DASH diet emphasizes adding fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet while reducing the amount of sodium. Since its rich in fruits and vegetables, which are naturally lower in sodium than many other foods, the DASH diet makes it easier to eat less salt and sodium.
Read Also: Is Sugar Bad For High Blood Pressure
When To See Your Doctor
If youre experiencing angry symptoms after a diagnosis of high blood pressure, you should see your doctor. They can do a physical exam, test your blood pressure, and determine if your anger is due to high blood pressure.
If youre experiencing anger due to high blood pressure, your doctor can prescribe medication or adjust your treatment plan.
If youre feeling stressed due to your high blood pressure, you may also want to talk to a mental health professional.
They can help you identify and address other stressors in your life.
Is It True That Getting Angry Can Affect The Heart
Indeed, the risk of a heart attack or angina is nearly five times higher in the two hours following an anger outburst than at other times, and the risk of stroke is four times higher. Lets not get too carried away with this though, because at any given moment the risk of a heart attack or stroke is very low, so even a five fold increase in risk isnt that great. To put the numbers into perspective, researchers estimate that if 10,000 healthy people have one anger outburst a month over a year, one of them will suffer a heart attack or a stroke as a result of the outburst. Among people who have other risk factors such as smoking, being overweight, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, there would be four cardiovascular events over a year with one monthly outburst. But among people who get angry more often, which is not an unusual scenario, the risk rises significantly. For example, if 10,000 people who also have other risk factors have five angry outbursts a day, some 600 of them will have a heart attack or stroke.
Also Check: How Long To Lower Blood Pressure