Previous studies have shown a connection between hostility and heart disease. Now new research suggests that not only do hostile individuals have higher blood pressures when they are angry, but their blood pressures remain elevated longer than non-hostile individuals.

　　Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson of the University of Michigan led the study published in the June issue of the Journal of Behavioral Medicine. ``What was new for us was showing the duration effect,'' she said.

　　Hostile individuals took about 40 seconds longer than non-hostile individuals to return to their normal diastolic (second number in a blood pressure reading) blood pressure after recalling a time when they were angry, the researchers report. ''These people are hanging on to anger longer,'' Fredrickson told Reuters Health.

　　Sixty-six older individuals were recruited from community organizations to participate in the study. None of the subjects were on medication to lower blood pressure. Study participants included 20 African Americans and 46 Caucasian Americans.

　　All participants were interviewed to assess "type A" behavior and hostility, and to measure levels of competitiveness, anger and time urgency. The emphasis of the interview was on how participants responded to questions rather than what they actually said. There is contention among researchers about whether this is the best way to assess hostility, Fredrickson admitted. She believes it is a good assessment tool. After all, ``hostile people aren't necessarily quick to admit that they're hostile,'' she explained.

　　Four types of hostility were noted: when a participant evaded a response or answered in a hostile manner; when the answer put down the interviewer directly or indirectly; when the answer was given in an elevated or changed tone of voice indicating hostility; or when the participant was openly antagonistic towards the interviewer.

　　Participants were also asked to describe a time when they were angry while their blood pressure levels were assessed.

　　Half of the participants were rated as having low hostility, and half were found to be highly hostile. The most hostile group had the highest blood pressure as they relived their anger. Their elevated diastolic blood pressure remained high for about 80 seconds, compared with the less hostile group, whose blood pressure returned to normal in 42 seconds.

　　As found in a previous study, African Americans showed longer lasting blood pressure responses to anger.

　　In other research, Fredrickson found that turning one's attention to something positive is a good way to allay anger. ``Try to find ways to cultivate positive emotions in your life,'' she suggested. But she added that ``regulating emotions in real life is hard to do.''

　　(From China Daily)