Chronic Anger and Hostility Increase Decline In Lung and Immunity Power

Filed in archive Studies on September 3, 2006

Whoever said that life is too damn short to stay angry, held truth backed by scientific evidence. Life indeed may become shorter in the long run if one is angry and hostile for a long time.

Exactly the findings of a study published ahead of print in Thorax: longstanding anger and hostility compromise lung function and hasten the natural decline in lung power that is a normal part of aging.

The findings was based on a study of 670 men aged 45-86 (average age=62) who take part in the long term US Normative Aging Study. Following initial assessment, these men were monitored for 8 years (average) during which their lung function and levels of hostility were measured using a validated scoring system.

The men's lung function at the start of the study varied according to their initial levels of hostility.

It was significantly poorer among those men deemed to exhibit high levels of anger and hostility compared with those who exhibited medium to low levels.
But it was also worse at each examination throughout the period of study.

Higher levels of hostility were also associated with a faster rate of the natural decline in lung function that occurs with aging.

In previous studies, hostility and anger have been associated with cardiovascular disease, death and asthma while mood changes can have short term effects on the lungs.

Neurological and hormonal processes are altered by anger and hostility, which could then lead to the disturbance of the immune system activity thereby producing chronic inflammation: much like how stress affects the body's immune system.

According to Dr. Paul Lehrer of the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, USA:

"Indeed it is hard to find a disease for which emotion or stress plays absolutely no part in symptom severity, frequency, or intensity of flare-ups. Chronic anger may permanently alter the normal body responses to physical and psychological stressors and add to "wear and tear."

So I guess we should all strive for a life free from stress, anger and hostility.
Stay happy. Be happy.

Source: Science Daily