New research has found that recalling past experiences that make adults angry can impair the function of cells that line the blood vessels. This could potentially limit blood flow, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Interestingly, feelings of anxiety and sadness did not have the same effect on the functioning of the blood vessel lining. The study was published today in a leading journal.The Journal of the American Heart Association is a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association that is available through open access.
Prior studies have indicated that the inability of blood vessels to relax properly may raise the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis, which in turn can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Daichi Shimbo, M.D., a professor of medicine at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City and the lead author of the study, stated, “Impaired vascular function is associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.” He also mentioned that observational studies have linked negative emotions to impaired vascular function.Associate with sadness; or viewing a neutral video about the Great Barrier Reef. The researchers then measured the function of the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels, using a test called flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery. This test measures how the artery responds to changes in blood flow, providing a non-invasive assessment of blood vessel function.
The study found that participants in the anger and anxiety groups had significantly impaired endothelial function compared to those in the sadness and neutral groups. This suggests that experiencing anger or anxiety may have a more detrimental effect on blood vessel function compared to sadness or a neutral emotional state. The researchers also found that changes in negative emotions were associated with changes in endothelial function, supporting the idea that these emotions may play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease.The researchers described a protocol called “Putative mechanisms Underlying Myocardial infarction onset and Emotions (PUME)” in a previous paper, which involved inducing an emotionally neutral state by evoking sadness or counting to 100 repeatedly. Before and after the tasks, the researchers assessed the cells lining the blood vessels of each study participant to look for signs of impaired blood vessel dilation, increased cell injury, and reduced cell repair capacity. The measurements were taken at baseline (0 minutes) and after the completion of the emotional tasks.
Through the study, it was discovered that tasks that brought up past events of anger resulted in a temporary impairment in blood vessel dilation from 0 to 40 minutes after the task, but this impairment disappeared after the 40-minute mark. No significant changes were observed in participants’ blood vessel linings after experiencing emotional tasks related to anxiety and sadness at any time points.
“The study revealed that inducing feelings of anger resulted in blood vessel dysfunction, although the exact cause of this is not yet fully understood,” researchers stated.Shimbo mentioned that understanding the connection between anger and blood vessel dysfunction could lead to finding effective ways to intervene for those at higher risk of cardiovascular events. The American Heart Association’s 2021 scientific statement on Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection also highlights how mental well-being can influence a person’s health and risk factors for heart disease and stroke. This study contributes to the increasing evidence that mental well-being plays a role in cardiovascular health.Dr. Glenn Levine, chair of the writing committee for the scientific statement and a professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, highlighted the connection between intense emotions and cardiovascular events. He pointed out that strong emotions like anger, stress, and intense sadness are known triggers for cardiovascular issues. He also mentioned that stressful events like earthquakes or even watching a high-stakes soccer match can lead to heart attacks or arrhythmias. This emphasizes the potential impact of emotional states on heart health.This current research demonstrates how anger can have a negative effect on the health and function of blood vessels, and we understand that the lining of blood vessels plays a significant role in heart disease. While we may not know all the ways in which mental states and health impact cardiovascular health, this study brings us closer to understanding those mechanisms.”
Background and details of the study:
- The Putative mechanisms Underlying Myocardial infarction onset and Emotions (PUME) study is a randomized controlled experimental study conducted from Au rnrnThe study took place from August 2013 to May 2017.
- People from the community near Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City were asked to take part in the study.
- The participants were 18 years old or older and were in good health. For this study, being healthy meant that they had no history of heart disease, stroke, bypass surgery or stents, transient ischemic attack, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, or a self-reported mental health disorder; they were not taking any prescription medications or dietary supplements; and they were not currently smoking.
- The average age of the people in the study was 26 years old.Approximately half of the individuals in the study identified as female. Around 40% of the participants identified as white, 29% as Hispanic/Latino, 19% as Asian, and 14% as Black. The researchers used finger probes to measure changes in blood flow in arteries to assess the participants’ blood vessel health before and after completing the emotional tasks. Prior to the tasks, the participants were seated in a comfortable, temperature-controlled room and instructed to relax for 30 minutes without talking, using their phones, reading, or sleeping.After a 30 minute relaxation period, the researchers used a cuff to measure the participants’ blood pressure and heart rate. They took two blood pressure measurements one minute apart, followed by measuring the dilation of the participants’ blood vessels and collecting blood samples for testing. The researchers then repeated the measurements of blood pressure and dilation, and collected blood samples again after the participants completed an assigned emotional task. Additionally, the researchers determined the extent of the participants’ blood vessels’ inability to dilate by measuring the blood flow in their non-dominant forearm.The injury to participants’ blood vessels was evaluated by counting the biomarkers of blood vessel lining in the blood. The regenerative capability of participants’ vascular cells was measured by assessing their levels of bone-marrow-derived cells, which are crucial for repair.
It should be noted that the study had limitations. The participants were young and in good health, so it is uncertain if the results would be applicable to older adults with other health conditions who may be taking medications,” Shimbo pointed out. Additionally, the participants were monitored in a health care setting rather than real-world conditions.The study only looked at the short-term impact of evoked emotions on different situations. The co-authors, disclosures, and funding sources can be found in the manuscript.
