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---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Experts say keeping cool head does a body good ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1997 Nando.net Copyright 1997 Cox News Service * Anger ranking quiz: heart attack risk test [sent separately] (July 26, 1997 10:27 a.m. EDT) -- It's hot. It's humid. The traffic's terrible. Some jerk zooms down the highway's shoulder, then zips in front of you, forcing you to slam on brakes. You snarl. You make impolite gestures. You're so stressed by the time you get where you're going you're ready to pounce at any provocation. Unless you learn to chill out, experts say, you're putting yourself in danger -- and not just because you might provoke a violent confrontation on the road. We're familiar with the shootings that have occurred on some big city roads lately involving irrationally angry motorists. But researchers are finding the stress motorists typically experience in less-violent "road rage" incidents is itself harmful to health. And a handful of studies suggests this kind of anger on the highways may be on the rise. The American Automobile Association says violent traffic incidents have risen 7 percent since 1990. And the AAA adds that for "every aggressive driving incident serious enough to result in a police report ... there are hundreds or thousands more which never got reported to the authorities." There were 41,907 highway fatalities in the United States in 1996 -- two thirds of which are tied to aggressive driving, Ricardo Martinez, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told the House Transportation Committee last week. But a growing body of research also indicates that losing your cool is dangerous in other ways. New studies by the Harvard School of Public Health indicate anger dramatically increases the risk of heart attack in people older than 40, releasing stress hormones and increasing oxygen demand by heart muscle cells. In a study of 1,300 people, Dr. Ichiro Kawachi of Harvard found those who scored highest on an "anger scale" devised by researchers were between two and 3.5 times as likely to develop heart disease over a seven-year period as those with low ratings. "Some people because of personality have difficulty controlling their anger, they tend to explode," he says. "It's that kind of danger that is particularly harmful. It's both biological and learned. But you can do something about it." Dr. Steven Manoukian, an Emory University cardiologist, says many of the heart attack patients he treats admit to having temper problems. "People who are angry don't feel in control of their surroundings, and tend to express anger as a variant of frustration," Manoukian says. "Since the loss of control is a possible (factor in) cardiac events and angina pains, trying to reduce those things that cause you to feel out of control can be of benefit in reducing risk for heart disease." So what can you do to chill out when you're hot under the collar? "You really need to make a conscious decision to try to realize you don't have control, not just in traffic but most areas of life," Manoukian says. He recommends listening to music in a car to ease stress. At home, try reading, finding a hobby or going for a walk. Don't turn to alcohol to try to calm down, as many do. It's not easy, but if you think hard enough about what caused your dander to rise, you'll realize you're often overreacting. "Sometimes just verbalizing the problems reduces stress and temper outbursts," he says. It may be cliche, but try counting to 10 to ward off anger. In addition, experts advise people with serious anger problems to seek psychiatric or psychological counseling. A quick temper can be a sign of depression, says Dr. Rick Winer, a Roswell, Ga., psychiatrist, so antidepressants may help. Many adults have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which causes impulsive behavior. "To modulate anger, you need to learn to control stress," Manoukian says. "You can't quit your job or not deal with family members. So the important thing is to make a conscious effort to think about controlling stress and anger. If that doesn't work, you may need counseling." By BILL HENDRICK, Atlanta Journal-Constitution http://www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/health/072697/health20_4896.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask]