In Essentials of Abnormal Psychology (Third Edition) by Durand and Barlow, emotions can be generally categorized into anger, fear, sadness or happiness. The first three are most frequently associated with stress response. Anger allows us to fight and protect ourselves from perceived threat. Fear allows us to run and hide. Sadness enables us to go through a grief process and to come to terms with our losses. Happiness lets us become aware that our needs are being met. If happiness is sustained for a period of time, it allows us to experience inner peace. Anger in particular leads to many physiological changes, eventually leading to disease or mal-adaptive behavior. There are multiple physiological symptoms of Anger. Anger causes flushing of skin, shortness of breath, pressure in the chest, muscle tightness, gastrointestinal changes, increased blood sugar, immune suppression and cardiovascular irritability. Anger increases heart rate and blood pressure, thus augmenting the risk of heart disease (Dismadle &Hackett, 1985). Anger contributes to death from heart disease more so than other risk factors such as smoking. high blood pressure and high cholesterol (Williams,Kong & Blumenthal,1980). Heart rate and blood pressure increases were compared to increases as result of exercise (riding a stationary bicycle). The researchers found the ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently through the body dropped significantly during anger but not during exercise (Ironson et al,1992). The efficacy of heart drops when subjects are angry, putting people at risk for dangerous arrhythmias. In a large study, young adults were observed for a period of 10 years. Those with high anger showed evidence of coronary artery disease (Irribaren et al,2000).

Anger increases cortisol levels that in turn lead to higher glucose levels. Glucose metabolism is influenced by stress and anger. In the presence of cortisol, insulin is less effective. This process results in increased insulin secretion which leads to overeating and obesity, causing further insulin resistance, resulting in Diabetes Mellitus. Anger leads to release of Catecholamines or stress hormones. These hormones are adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. Catecholamines lead to sympathetic activation which causes lipid release into the blood stream. Platelets are also activated, which will lead to atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction (Richards,Hoff, &Alvarenga, 2000). In another study, 200 Harvard University students between 1942 and 1944 who were mentally and physically healthy were followed for thirty years. Those who were highly stressed or angry became chronically ill or died at a significantly higher rate than men who remained well adjusted (George, Villiant,1979). The brain, or the neuro-endocrine system, is connected to the immune system. Many studies have shown anger, even short term, can reduce immune response leading to allergies and frequent infections. Finally, anger is associated with self-destructive behaviors such as overeating, cigarette smoking, excessive coffee consumption, alcohol use and drug abuse. In conclusion, anger causes many physiological symptoms that pose a threat to the physical and emotional health of human beings. Without the proper means or outlets to release this anger in the right way, people will continue to fall victim to a variety of the health problems that anger can provoke.

References
Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2003). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology (with CD-ROM) (3 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.

Burns, M. D. (2000). Chapter 7. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (pp. 149-197). New York: Quill/Harper Collins Publishers.

Taylor, S. E. (2006). Chapter 12: Psychological Issues in Advancing and Terminal Illness; Chapter 13: Heart Disease, Hypertension, Stroke, and Diabetes. Health Psychology (6 ed., pp. 329-365). New York City: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.