ISLAMABAD: Anger is a natural human emotion, but do you know what is really happening inside your body and brain when you feel that intense rage? Let’s explore the science behind anger and its physical effects.
When you get angry, the amygdala, the emotional control center of the brain, becomes highly active. It triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, putting your body on high alert.
At the same time, the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, becomes more active. This heightened activity can make it difficult to think rationally and respond calmly.
As stress hormones flood your system, your heart starts pounding and your blood pressure rises. Blood vessels constrict, redirecting blood flow to major muscle groups in a “fight or flight” response—a survival mechanism from our ancestral past.
While this acute stress reaction may have helped our ancestors survive threats, in modern life, it can be harmful. Prolonged anger and cardiovascular strain are linked to increased risks of hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes.
Anger can temporarily suppress the immune system. Elevated cortisol levels disrupt the normal functioning of your body’s disease-fighting cells, making you more susceptible to illness. Your response to anger and other emotions is also influenced by genetics. Research has also identified several genes associated with the neural pathways and neurochemicals involved in the anger response. Variations in these genes can predispose individuals to different anger patterns and emotional tendencies.
