Hey there!
Got angry because of an annoying person? Long drive or commute? Same. But what I didn’t realize is that our cells actually feel that bad mood too. 😤 When we boil over with anger, the body doesn’t just shrug it off, it fires up inflammatory messengers that can make us achy, stressed, and, if it happens often, even sick. 🫣 Turns out, that bad trip moment is literally inflammatory.
When Feelings Fire Up Inflammation
Science says anger isn’t just in our heads. Studies show:
Negative moods (sadness, irritation, anger) measured throughout the day correlate with higher levels of inflammatory markers in the blood. 😒 A Penn State study found the closer a negative mood was reported to a blood draw, the stronger the inflammatory spike.
Positive mood, meanwhile, was associated with lower inflammation for some participants. In other words, our body listens to good vibes, too. 😊
Researchers also found that people with higher anger and hostility showed stronger cytokine release when their immune cells were challenged.
So yes—when we’re seeing red, our immune system reacts as well.
What’s the Science behind Anger?
Anger raises pro-inflammatory molecules like IL-6 and TNF-α. These are useful when we’re fighting infection or healing wounds, but too much of them is not good either.
Women who got angrier in stress tests showed bigger spikes in IL-6 — but those with good social support didn’t flare up as badly. So yes, ladies, those heart-to-heart sessions with your closest is actually great for your health. 👯
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It’s also found out that suppressing anger, exploding with it, or handling it calmly all produce different inflammation profiles. Your coping style matters.
Why It Matters for Our Health
Chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and even mood disorders. That means every time we let anger simmer unchecked, we’re adding fuel to an already slow-burning fire inside our body. ❤️🔥
What researchers found out that would resonate well with our grandparents is that research from the American Psychological Association shows that anger may be especially harmful for older adults, accelerating inflammation and its health risks. So be chill with your lolas and lolos, and don’t be pasaway! 😝
Quick Cool Down
So what do we do…never get mad? Impossible. 🤷🏻 Anger is human, but letting it linger is what turns it toxic. A short walk, a laugh with a friend, even mindful breathing can help reset the body before cytokines go crazy.
Maybe a few drops of 🍊Oleia Tangerine Oil🍊 massaged in will help out stress-driven inflammation, while the natural nutrients dive deep to protect cells. A little happy scent so maybe our consciousness will follow. Because at the end of the day, bad vibes may be contagious, but so are good ones. 😉
Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine? ’Til next time!
xo, L
References:
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/negative-mood-signals-bodys-immune-response
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2019/05/anger-harmful-older-adults
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24357433/
