Anger linked to illness

Posted: Monday, Apr 09, 2007 - 10:25:42 pm PDT
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Sholeh Patrick

It's obvious that feelings of anger and frustration negatively affect psychological health, and that care and compassion do the opposite.

Not so well known are the studies over the last decade or so which have shown that the same is true of our physical health -- specifically, resistance to disease.

Our first defense against illness, both short and long-term, is in salivary immunoglobin, S-IgA, which contains antibodies to fight disease. Certain emotions have been found to either reduce or increase levels of S-IgA, and affect risks of illnesses ranging from colds and headaches to heart disease.

The more S-IgA, the better; feelings of anger or frustration were shown to decrease those levels, and feelings of compassion or caring increase them. Furthermore, self-induced feelings (via memory and mood) increased these effects more than external stimuli, according to the studies collected by HeartMath.org.

While outside events are often seen as the big emotional and physiological disruptors of our lives, they affect our bodies much less than the way we either prolong or change our continuing moods, according to a 1995 study in the Journal of Advancement in Medicine. Several studies and reports have since confirmed these and similar findings, such as the bases of an article in the current issue of AARP magazine, which lists mood-enhancing and relaxation practices as two of the "six secrets" of healthy adults.

The S-IgA study concluded that anger produced a significant increase in total mood disturbance and heart rate, but not in those disease-fighting S-IgA levels. Just five minutes of positive emotions of caring and compassion produced a significant increase in S-IgA levels. The negative immune effects of anger also lingered longer. S-IgA affects the incidence of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary problems, as well as generalized immunity.

When it comes to that self-induced mood enhancement that the study found more effective than anything else, suggestions in AARP's article like pets, tai-chi, and meditative practice are helpful, but the study emphasized memory and mental focus.

"Somewhat surprisingly, minor mood fluctuations are more strongly correlated with disease than major stressors," wrote S-IgA study authors Glen Rein and Rorin McCraty. "Furthermore, the A&F (anger and frustration) group reported a variety of physical symptoms including headaches, indigestion, muscle pains and fatigue."

Reduced levels of that needed S-IgA were also seen following a common source of frustration: the need to have power and to influence others.

In other words, dwelling less on the negative, letting go of controlling tendencies, and having a positive outlook boost the body's physiological -- not just psychological -- health. Doing the opposite increases heart rate for longer periods, decreases S-IgA secretions, and causes other negative physical effects, increasing pain and risks of disease. On the contrary, positive feelings of caring and compassion almost immediately increased S-IgA levels up to 240 percent, kept them high for longer, and kept the heart rate healthy.

All of this simply confirms the idea that while negative emotions can be momentarily useful as sources of information or impetus for change, hanging on to them just ages the body faster and makes it sicker. Replacing them instead with positive mood-enhancers that induce caring, warmth and relaxation is good for the body, not to mention the soul.

Sholeh Patrick is a local attorney and columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Send e-mail to sholehjo@hotmail.com