When you get angry, the stress isn't restricted to your head. New research shows that anger actually triggers electrical changes in the heart, which can predict future arrhythmias or irregular heart beats in some patients.
The phenomenon is called a T-wave. It’s the last bump in the electrocardiogram, which records the electrical activity of the heart as it beats. T-wave alternans are a wide variation in the height or regularity of that bump.
A number of studies have linked T-wave alternans to the risk of a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia that can be prevented by implanting a defibrillator, which delivers jolts to keep the heart beating regularly, according to the article “Control Your Anger, Help Your Heart” on U.S. News and World Report.com.
T-wave alternans can be detected by a physical stress test. In a report by Rachel Lampert, M.D., associate professor of cardiology and electrophysiology at Yale University, when 62 people with implanted defibrillators took a mental stress test, remembering a recent situation in which they were angered or aggravated, their reactions could be measured.
Over a three-year period, 16 percent of the participants experienced arrhythmias that set off their implanted defibrillators, and they were found to have higher T-wave alternans than those who didn’t have arrhythmias, according to the article.
The study helps show why anger can lead to sudden death. “Feeling angry can bring on arrhythmias,” Lampert is quoted as saying in the article. “It shows what anger does to the heart electrical system…”
A study is being done at Yale on whether interventions aimed at controlling anger could be a way to decrease exposure to arrhythmias. The T-wave alternans of people who have defibrillators implanted are measured and, if their levels are high, they’re enrolled in a self-control program.
The study points out the importance of reducing the stress in our lives.
If you'd like to work on being less stressed, “Six Ways to Reduce Stress and Protect Your Heart” on Everyday Health offers these suggestions:
- Build a support system.
- Recognize your stress triggers.
- Schedule in time-outs.
- Find fun, stress relieving activities.
- Soothe your soul with music.
- Learn to say no.
Other resources on stress management are:
“Lower Stress to Prevent Heart Disease” – Revolution Health.com
“Tips to Protect Your Heart in a Bad Economy” – Medical News Today
“Lower Stress to Prevent Heart Disease” – My Health/Health Library
“Take a Nap, Protect Your Heart?” – WebMed
“Blow Off Steam to Protect Your Brain and Your Heart” – Articlesbase
“Stress Can Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease” – Healthline
“10 Ways to Protect Your Heart from the Tolls of Recession” – WebMed
“New Thinking on How to Protect the Heart” – The New York Times
Best wishes with your stress reduction work, especially letting go of and controlling anger. It's important for boomer consumers.
rita…now that you wrote that story you might want to go find out why icd manufacturers have tried do hard to keep the twave alternans test out of doctors offices..ICD companies think the mtwa test will shrink sales by better definition of who really needs an icd..they rather implant icds into anyone who fulfills the present guidelines…Reality is if they used the test more patients who really needed an icd would get one and those who really didnt, wouldnt, and a lifetime of having an unnecessary icd is rescued..Medicare would save 670million each year
Hi Brian,
Does ICD mean implanted defibrillator?
If what you’re saying is correct, it’s troubling that ICD manufacturers are blocking use of the T-wave alternans test to enhance their profits.
Rita