Zen and the Art of Injury Prevention

Don't tackle a tough physical task if you're seeing red.
Research suggests that being angry may increase a person's risk of
injury nearly seven-fold. About 63 percent of people surveyed during
an emergency room visit indicated they were feeling irritable, angry,
or hostile at the time they were injured. Before taking on a physical
task, count to 10, breathe deeply, and approach your project with a
sense of calm to reduce your risk of injury.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being
can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

Originally published on 03/14/2006.

More and more research suggests that chronic anger is bad for your
health. Although everyone experiences temporary bouts of anger, called
"state anger," people who have an enduring hostile or angry attitude,
called "trait anger," may have an increased risk of arterial aging,
high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and a depressed immune
system. New research suggests that state anger increases the risk of
injury, especially in men. The study looked at people who visited an
emergency room for treatment of an injury and reported their emotions
immediately prior to the injury. The majority were angry at the time
of their injuries. Exercise, journaling, deep breathing, and venting
your frustrations to a trusted friend are all great ways to diffuse
angry feelings. If you have a chronic problem controlling your anger,
consider seeing a psychotherapist or counselor to learn how to
decrease hostility and protect yourself from long-term health
consequences.

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From: Health@RealAge.com
http://www.realage.com/news_features/tip.aspx?v=2&cid=16474