By Dr. Gregg Jacobs, PHD

When anger becomes chronic it can affect health, particularly when it takes the form of hostility, an intense type of anger that involves an attitude of cynicism, animosity, and aggression. Because hostile people expect that others will mistreat them, they mistrust others in advance.  They see everyone as the enemy. 

Defuse your short fuse
Hostile people live with a chronically short "fuse" that causes blood pressure and heart rate to rise, blood fat and cholesterol to increase, blood platelets to become "stickier" so that they block artery walls, blood vessels to constrict, and oxygen flow to the heart to decrease.  When these changes persist, they can lead to serious illness, even death.  (See the Truestar Stress Page for more information on how stressors such as hostility affect the body and health).

Hostile to your health
Scores of studies document that people with intense hostility are at greater risk for heart attacks and heart disease.  Studies also show that reducing hostility diminishes the risk of recurrent heart attack and may in fact prevent heart disease.

Research at Duke University revealed that hostile men are seven times more likely than less-hostile men to die prematurely. Williams found that anger was a stronger predictor of early death than smoking, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol.

One reason hostility adversely affects health is that angry people drive friends and family away.  Because they exhibit an attitude of mistrust and a lack of empathy for others, angry people are more likely to reject the help of others. As a result, hostile individuals reduce the beneficial effects of social support and place their health in further jeopardy.

Avoid selfishness
A hallmark characteristic of the hostile individual is an attitude of excessive self-involvement and selfishness. They are far more likely to use the words "I" and "me" rather then "we" and "us".

Hostile people view others with suspicion and see others’ behaviors as irritating, or as not meeting expectations; they have a hard time congratulating others, are preoccupied with the errors and mistakes of others, and are quick to argue.  Hostile people exhibit a pervasive need to defend themselves from "the enemy"-other people- who are a constant threat. As a result, hostile people feel isolated and are never at peace with themselves.

Fortunately, an attitude of chronic hostility, like relentless pessimism, can be changed.  At least eighteen studies have shown that hostility can be reduced. Furthermore, eight controlled behavior modification programs designed to reduce hostility in heart attack victims have shown an average reduction in recurrent heart attacks of 39% and a 33% reduction in deaths when compared with standard cardiac rehabilitation programs that don't focus on reducing hostility.

For ten great exercises to reduce hostility click here. Visit the Truestar Attitude page for more information on keeping yourself free of hostility.