• A randomized controlled trial conducted by Columbia University Irving Medical Center researchers examined the effect of negative emotions compared with the neutral condition on acute endothelial cell health to determine the risk of cardiovascular incidents in the future.

• The salient points of the study are as follows -

1. For this purpose, 280 seemingly healthy, young people were screened and randomized into 4 arms (anger, anxiety, sadness, and neutral condition).

2. The participants were induced to feel a certain emotion and the following measurements were taken:

• Reactive hyperemia index (RHI)

• Endothelial cell‐derived microparticles (EMP)

• Bone marrow‐derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) levels 

3. The baseline measurements were compared with post-induction levels of the same at 5-time points as these would assess acute endothelial cell health.

• The results showed a significant change in RHI (p=0.007) after anger, while no significant change was seen for any other result category for RHI or EMP and EPC levels in blood.

• Thus, the researchers concluded that anger can negatively affect acute endothelial cell health.

• However, they called for more research to study the long-term effects of the same.

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