Patients with coronary heart disease can lower their blood pressure and reduce their heart risk by undergoing hostility-reduction intervention. The study found that in persons who had heart disease, who were additionally having problems with interpersonal stress or aggression, that if they went into a group therapy, their blood pressure as well as their aggression and hostility, both right after the treatment and 8 weeks later.

The degree to which blood pressure was reduced was equivalent to the reduction in hostility, and given the design of the study, the researchers speculate that hostility might play a causal role in blood pressure. Since blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease, the authors noted that this study lends itself to further investigation into the role hostility plays in coronary heart disease.

Health Psychology July 1999; 18:1-5

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Hostility will activate the autonomic nervous system and release adrenaline. Adrenaline is one of the most potent oxidant stresses known to man. Without adrenaline, we would be in sorry shape. However, most of us have far too much.

Strategies that help resolve the neuro-emotional connections that allow one to react in a hostile way are enormously beneficial for optimized health. It is likely that one’s inability to respond properly to stress causes more heart attacks than high cholesterol levels and smoking combined.

There are many strategies one can employ. Aerobic exercise is a simple intervention that most can employ. Prayer is probably the most powerful strategy.

A medical technique that appears particularly effective is Neuro Emotional Technique. This was developed by a chiropractor, Dr. Scott Walker. I have had a therapist using this in my office for the past several months and I am enormously impressed with the results. I will have a description of this technique in my articles section in the next week or so. Practitioners can be located by calling 800-638-1411.

  I will be going to Seattle in two weeks to learn a revision of this technique called Psycho Kinesiology (PK). Dr. Klinghardt who is a German MD with a PhD in the autonomic nervous system teaches the course.  PK appears to be one of the most powerful clinical healing interventions today and I am excited to be learning the technique.