If you are harboring anger and animosity for others in your heart then can’t be said when it would strike at the subject, however, one thing is certain that it would strike you first.
This is claimed by Steven Boyle, Ph.D., of Duke University Medical Center and colleagues after they studied around 313 male Vietnam veterans who were part of a larger 20-year study on the effects of Agent Orange.
Before the carving out this conclusion, these veterans underwent a standard psychological test aimed at knowing their levels of hostility, depression and anger. Finally, it was concluded that men with higher level of hostility, depressive symptoms and anger had a 7.1 percent increase in their C3 level, while men with low levels of these attributes didn’t show any such change during the course of study that lasted up to 10- years.
Actually, C3 and C4 are two kinds of immune system protein, which are markers of inflammation. Importantly, changes in the levels of C3 and C4 proteins have been found affecting arteries around the heart and even paving the way for diabetes. This clearly proves that these traits alone are enough to put your health at risk. Confirming this association between increased levels of protein and health hazards, the study states:
We showed positives associations between psychological attributes and 10-year changes in C3 among initially healthy middle-aged males.
Conclusion looming out of this study is quite informative; however, it fails to answer that could psychological treatment bring down the level of C3 protein. No, matter what would be the appropriate reply to this question, however, it could certainly be sated that decreased levels of these traits would at least help such people to feel better than before. Moreover, it would pave the way for their better relations with their peers, as Boyle says:
...such interventions, lower levels of anger and hostility will likely lead to better relationships and increased well-being.
Via: Dvorak
