People who are highly disagreeable, aggressive, and quick to anger are more likely to have thickened arteries, which are a major risk factor for strokes, heart attacks, and hypertension, according to reporting on August 16, 2010 from the American Heart Association.
People scoring in the bottom 10% of agreeableness, based upon standard psychological testing batteries, were more likely to have thickened arteries, as measured by ultrasound techniques. Specifically, they had a 40% greater likelihood of having thickened neck artery walls. Furthermore, the thickening got worse for these people, according to measurements taken three years later.
As one ages, arterial thickening becomes more common due to factors such as metabolism. However, these more emotive and irritable subjects showed similar effects to the metabolic syndrome, in essence displaying stress-related, premature arterial aging.
Indeed practitioners have long noted complications with vascular health relating to aggressive personalities. For example, specialists at Vessel Health in Albuquerque, New Mexico note that “aggressive life style remediation is usually mandatory” following procedures like stent implantation.
Aggressive behavior, therefore, does not appear to pay in the long run. If one has no other reason to tone down one's attitudes, one should at least consider doing it for the sake of one's own health.
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