THE NEURON

Anger is one of the commonest emotion of human brain. It is a powerful emotion and if it isn’t handled appropriately, it may have destructive results for you and those closest to you. 

What anger does to your brain

Anger triggers the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response just like fear and anxiety. Our adrenal glands secret the stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.The brain increases blood flow towards the muscles. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase, the body temperature rises and the skin perspires.

The emotional center of the brain is the limbic system.  It is located lower in the brain and is more primitive. Sometimes we call it emotional lobe.Within the limbic system is a small structure called the amygdala, a storehouse for emotional memories.  It is also the area of the brain responsible for our “fight or flight”.

When someone is experiencing and expressing anger, he or she is using the limbic center of the brain. Some people loose their cool very frequently. It not only ruins their personal relationships but also causes huge problem to themselves.

Anger is a feeling you have that often goes away after a short period of time. Symptoms include:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Increased blood pressure
• Rage
• Aggressive behavior

What health problems angry person faces

Headache

Anger causes tension headache. When you’re angry, muscles in the back of your neck and scalp tense up, causing a tight band-like sensation around your head. This is a sign of a tension headache. 

Sleep problems

One of the commonest cause of sleep loss is an increase in anger. Many times sleep loss causes more anger.

Depression and anxiety

Frustration, depression and anxiety are close friends of anger issues. Long-term anger can be a symptom of depression. Depression causes anger and vice versa.

Hypertension and cardiovascular problem

Anger causes an outpouring of stress hormones like adrenaline, which makes your heart beat faster and your blood pressure rise. It also makes your blood more likely to clot, which is especially dangerous if your arteries are narrowed by cholesterol-laden plaque.

Stroke

Anger and other negative emotions may be triggers for ischemic stroke. People having hypercholesterolemia land into sudden stroke.

How to rate your anger

This scale is commonly used to measure a person’s anger level.

Rate your response to each statement as 1(almostnever),2 (sometimes),3 (often), or 4 (almost always). Then add your numbers. A score of 10–14 indicates low anger, 15–21 moderate anger, and 22–40 high anger.

I am quick tempered.

I have a fiery temper.

I am a hot-headed person.

I get angry when I am slowed down
by others’ mistakes.

I feel annoyed when I am not given
recognition for doing good work.

I feel infuriated when I do a good
job and get a poor evaluation.

I fly off the handle.

When I get angry, I say nasty things.

It makes me furious when I am criticized in front of others.

When I get frustrated, I feel like hitting someone.

Your score

Where you fall in anger scoring?

Control your anger. It will harm your health. Keep your emotions positive.

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Reference

Garfinkel SN, Zorab E, Navaratnam N, Engels M, Mallorquí-Bagué N, Minati L, Dowell NG, Brosschot JF, Thayer JF, Critchley HD. Anger in brain and body: The neural and physiological perturbation of decision-making by emotion. Social cognitive and affective neuroscience. 2016 Jan 1;11(1):150-8.

Deffenbacher JL, Oetting ER, Lynch RS. Development of a driving anger scale. Psychological reports. 1994 Feb;74(1):83-91.