Effect of Anger Provocation on Endothelium-Dependent and -Independent Vasodilation

Daichi Shimbo, William Chaplin, Oluwaseun Akinola, Adam Harris, Dennis Abraham, Shunichi Homma, William Gerin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anger is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease events, although the mechanisms for this relation are unclear. The effects of an anger-provoking interview compared with a neutral interview on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation assessed by brachial artery ultrasound were examined in 14 healthy subjects without coronary heart disease risk factors. The anger provocation condition, but not the neutral condition, caused a significant impairment in endothelium-dependent vasodilation at 90 minutes compared with baseline (p = 0.004) and 30 minutes (p = 0.013). Similarly, endothelium-independent vasodilation was significantly impaired at 90 minutes after the angry interview compared with baseline (p = 0.003) and 30 minutes (p = 0.001). The decreases in endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation were greater after the anger-provoking interview than after the neutral interview, especially between 30 and 90 minutes. In conclusion, preliminary results suggest that an episode of anger is associated with a dysregulation in endothelium-dependent and -independent pathways, suggesting that these mechanisms might contribute to the link between anger and coronary heart disease events.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)860-863
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Cardiology
Volume99
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2007

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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