Do you have irritable man syndrome?
11 May 2010

Do you have irritable man syndrome?

2 mins to read
Anger can be a destructive emotion for men, both socially and physically. Online personal trainer Andrew Cate looks at the impact anger can have on your health and outlines some proven strategies to calm the storm.


Understanding anger

Anger is a powerful emotion that can be triggered by pain, frustration or disappointment. One person can experience anger very differently from the next, depending on:

  • how easily they get angry
  • how intensely their anger is felt
  • how long anger it lasts
  • how often anger occurs

Anger is a normal and unavoidable human emotion that can range from a slight annoyance to hostility and rage. When well managed, anger and irritation have very few detrimental health or interpersonal consequences. But when anger gets out of control, it can alienate family, friends and co-workers. It can also have a detrimental effect on your health.

Did you know?

Anger is a powerful emotion that can stem from frustration or disappointment, and it can be expressed differently, ranging from slight annoyance to hostility and rage.

The research

A US study published in 2007 suggested that middle-aged pre-hypertensive men who have high levels of anger are at increased risk of developing heart health problems. The study gave men a trait anger ranking, with the higher the score, the greater the tendency to display anger across a range of situations. High trait anger scores were associated with a 90 per cent increase in the risk of progression to more serious heart health problems.

The researchers also noted that previous studies have shown a relationship between high levels of anger and heart disease development.

How to treat and prevent anger management

Treating anger and stress may help to slow the progression of heart-related illness. Anger management is a good lifestyle strategie that may help to help control anger.

Learning how to constructively deal with anger has the potential to benefit your physical and emotional health. Consider the following strategies to help keep your anger under control

  • When you start to feel angry, practice deep breathing and positive self-talk.
  • Keep a log of moments when you feel anger, or have angry outbursts, to increase your awareness of the circumstances that make you angry. 
  • Seek out suitable ways to express your anger, such as boxing classes, tennis or golf.
  • Some men can benefit from finding a friend or partner to confide in, rather than bottling up any anger. Learning to express your feelings calmly and rationally may help to keep any hostility at bay.
  • If you believe your anger is out of control, you could seek the help of a healthcare professional, or look for an anger management class in your local area.

References available on request  



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