Xiao Fang (not her real name), a 28-year-old urban working woman, recently found herself feeling anxious and angry about her work stress and daily chores. This persistent negative emotional state was accompanied by some physical discomfort: she noticed a lump in her breast, chest pain that intensified when she was emotional, and that the chest was so swollen and painful before her period that it was hard to the touch and untouchable. These symptoms raised concerns about her health and prompted her to seek professional advice at the hospital. The hospital examination confirmed that Xiaofang had breast hyperplasia, which the doctor pointed out was closely related to her long-term bad mood state. This discovery shocked Xiaofang, who never imagined that emotional fluctuations could directly affect her breast health. Doctors emphasize that mood and mindset have a profound impact on breast health, and that frequent mood swings can trigger breast-related diseases. Therefore, maintaining a peaceful mind and stable emotions is essential for maintaining health in daily life.
Anger occurs in a key area deep in the brain: the amygdala. This brain area is responsible for processing our memories, instinctive responses, and emotional responses. When confronted with an anger-provoking situation, the amygdala activates rapidly, and with the help of previous experiences, it identifies the anger trigger and triggers the adrenal glands to secrete a series of hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, prompting the body to enter "fight or flight" mode. Although individuals exhibit different physiological and emotional responses to anger, the physiological changes triggered by these hormones are prevalent, including increased heartbeat and blood pressure to promote blood flow to muscles and limbs, increased respiratory rate to increase oxygen to muscles**, increased body temperature and muscle tone, leading to possible clenching of hands or jaws, teeth grinding, or restless walking, as well as symptoms such as increased sweating of the palms and redness or headache of the face. These systemic physiological responses suggest that anger is not just an emotional response, but has far-reaching effects on physical health, leading to extensive scientific research** of its potential impact on health.
Long-term immersion in bad emotions such as anger, depression and anxiety can lead to excessive production of adrenaline and cortisol, which poses a threat to the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of heart disease. When emotionally agitated, a rapid heartbeat and an increase in blood pressure may prompt plaque rupture or damage to the walls of blood vessels, causing cerebral infarction or hemorrhage. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or intracranial aneurysms to control their emotions and avoid anger. The formation of breast diseases is closely related to endocrine changes, such as mood swings, eating habits and sleep quality. Emotional instability is considered one of the risk factors for breast hyperplasia and breast cancer.
The occurrence of thyroid nodules and hyperthyroidism is also associated with mood swings. Frequent anger can lead to an imbalance in the endocrine system and hyperthyroidism, especially in women. People who are irritable and irritable in their lives are more likely to develop high blood pressure because these emotions activate the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in a persistent increase in blood pressure. Gastrointestinal disorders are closely linked to emotions, which can affect appetite and may trigger digestive disorders such as chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome, as low mood can lead to insufficient blood in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract**.