Take control of your anger

AN irritating boss or colleague, misbehaving children, being bumped into in the street are just a few of the things that can make any of us cross sometimes.

And, in a tricky economic period, when we’re generally more stressed, our anger can be further fuelled by outrage and frustration over everything from bankers’ bonuses to pension cuts and job losses.

Anger in itself is neither good nor bad and it can be a huge sense of relief when we finally get something off our chest.

But it becomes a problem when it harms us or other people. Anger is the emotion most likely to cause problems in relationships in the family, at work and with friends.

People with a long-term anger problems tend to be poor at making decisions, take more risks than other people and are more likely to have a substance misuse problem, while long-term and intense anger has been linked with mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and self-harm.

The emotion is also linked to poorer overall physical health, as well as particular conditions, such as high blood pressure, colds and flu, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer and gastro-intestinal problems.

So, if counting to 10 has never quite stopped you losing your rag, it could be time to look at ways to prevent yourself reaching boiling point.

Pretend you’re someone you admire, suggests Annie Hinchliff, a chartered psychologist, one of the experts examining the emotion in Reader’s Digest’s April issue.

Lots of people who get angry a lot do so

Research pinpoints recurring stroke risk

Investigators at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and UCD have discovered that plaque inflammation in the carotid artery predicts early stroke recurrence.

Currently, one in four patients who have a transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) due to carotid plaque will experience a second stroke within 90 days, even when treated in line with best practice guidelines. “This could fundamentally change the way in which we target and treat patients who present following a mini-stroke,” said Professor Peter Kelly.

“It means that we may be able to significantly reduce the number of people who suffer a second stroke during the high-risk period by identifying and treating them more quickly.”

Arthritis sufferers to step out in May

Championed by RTÉ’s John Murray, pictured right, the Get your Joints in Motion walk will kick off in the Phoenix Park on Saturday, May 5 at 11am.

Organised by Arthritis Ireland, this fun and inspiring day is designed specifically for people with arthritis.

Walkers can choose to walk either 2.5km or 5km on the flat terrain of Dublin’s Phoenix Park. The registration fee is €20 for individuals and €30 for a family entry.

In Ireland, around 915,000 people live with arthritis, an inflammation of the joints where sufferers experience pain and fatigue in doing everyday things.

. To register for the walk, go online to www.arthritisireland.ie

Did you know...

People dependent on alcohol are three times more likely than occasional drinkers to suffer from severe gum disease.

(Source: British Dental Health Foundation)