"I'm furious and need to blow off steam—heading to the gym!" It's a familiar impulse, but a risky one. While exercise seems like the ideal way to de-stress and clear your mind, it can actually endanger your heart. A study in the American Heart Association journal reveals that combining physical exertion with anger sharply raises blood pressure and heart rate, significantly increasing heart attack risk.
To reach this conclusion, researchers examined 12,461 heart attack cases and found that one in seven victims had been angry or upset beforehand. Those who felt anger or had exercised were three times more likely to suffer an attack.
This doesn't mean ditching exercise altogether. Gentler alternatives like yoga or Pilates are surging in popularity. They engage your muscles while soothing your mind and heart.
