Anger is a common emotion. It’s natural, and it’s a part of how you respond to certain circumstances in your environment. It’s how you express extreme displeasure. However, new research suggests chronic anger can be detrimental to your health. Essentially, it comes down to this: If you are stressed, tense, easily irritable, angry, and “snippy” all the time, you may be doing serious harm to your well-being. Studies have already shown a link between anger and the heart. People who showed signs of feeling anger on a regular basis experienced higher rates of heart disease. The first studies on the impact of anger came out in the 1950s and have since been confirmed: Chronic anger physically harms the heart. Why? When you get angry or upset, your brain triggers the release of specific hormones, including cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones are responsible for triggering the “fight or flight” response. When these hormones enter the bloodstream, your heart rate increases and arteries constrict. This helps to more effectively pump blood to the arms and legs for a fight or a flight. The problem is that when a person is constantly angry or upset, these hormones course through the body more frequently, stressing the arteries and internal organs. As a person ages, this stress can become more damaging. CHRONIC ANGER, YOUR HEART, AND YOUR HEALTH How This Emotion Is Doing You Harm
One study that appeared in the Psychology and Aging Journal looked into this phenomenon. Researchers found that there is a link between frequently experiencing anger and increased inflammation and chronic illness for people ages 80 and older. This equated to more instances of heart disease and dementia. The study also looked at other emotions, including sadness, which has also been linked to heart disease and other inflammatory diseases. Through a number of tests involving 200 participants ages 59–93, the researchers concluded anger was far more detrimental to a person’s health than sadness. Ultimately, if you regularly experience rage and frustration, properly dealing with your anger is one of the best things you can do for your health. Every person’s situation is different, and it comes down to getting to the bottom of what makes you angry so you can work through it, whether you work through it alone or with a mental health professional. Take the steps to prioritize your mental and physical health, and your efforts will pay off tenfold in the long run.
LOOKING FOR WEEKEND ACTIVITIES THAT WON’T BREAK THE BANK? Here Are Some Kid-Friendly Ideas to Get You Started!
September can be a strange time of year for parents. Many families just returned from their last vacation of the summer, so they are stuck trying to find fun outdoor activities that allow them to soak up the last few weekends of warm weather without totally breaking the bank. Splashing around in water parks and perusing aquariums make for fun experiences, but daily passes can add up quickly, especially if you’re wanting to take the whole family. Don’t let that discourage you, though! There are plenty of fun and inexpensive ways to spend your weekend in the sunshine. Here are a few to keep in mind! BALLOON BONANZA The next time you’re at the grocery store, swing by the kids’ aisle and grab a couple bags of water balloons. Then once that glorious weekend sunshine starts to peak over the mountains, grab your swimsuits and the garden hose and get to filling. You can pick teams for an all-out competition
or play a nerve-wracking game of catch. No matter how long it takes to pop the hundreds of balloons, don’t forget to take a few timeouts and reapply some sunscreen!
DON’T FORGET THAT SIDEWALK CHALK
While you’re shopping for water balloons, be sure to add a box of colorful chalk to your cart. Even if you don’t have ample concrete or sidewalk space at your house, you can always take the kids downtown where they can show off their creations to local passersby. SUNSET MISSION Hop on your phone or computer and start researching idyllic new spots to catch an epic Colorado sunset. If you have small children, Glenmere Park and Bittersweet Park might be good places to start. You could pack some snacks, blankets, and even hot chocolate in a thermos to ensure you have the perfect setup to watch the
sun make its beautiful descent behind the clouds and trees. If your kids are a little older and up for a bigger adventure, you can journey an hour outside of Greeley to watch the sunset from some great hiking trails, such as Devil’s Backbone or Carter Lake Reservoir. If you’re a novice hiker and have any questions about preparation or planning, be sure to give Dr. Lowry a call here at the office! He’d be happy to offer up both trail knowledge and encouragement!
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