Bursts of anger, anxiety episodes raise heart attack risk

The risk of a heart attack is 8.5 times higher in the two hours following a burst of intense anger and 9.5 times higher in the two hours after an anxiety episode, research has revealed.

“The triggers for [the] bursts of intense anger were associated with arguments with family members (29 per cent), arguments with others (42 per cent), work anger (14 per cent) and driving anger (14 per cent),” lead author Dr Thomas Buckley from the University of Sydney's Sydney Nursing School and Royal North Shore Hospital said.

Buckley said the findings highlighted the need to consider strategies to protect individuals most at risk during times of acute anger.

Health editor Dallas Bastian spoke to Buckley about the findings and strategies for managing a person with heart disease or those at risk.

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