Many people on social media spend much of their time whining about the state of the world – and are in a perpetual state of outrage. They feel it necessary to continuously post updates on Facebook, X, BlueSky Social, even Instagram – letting us know that politician X is a moron, probably a Nazi, and the majority that voted for who ever is in power, are obviously fascists or communists.
Living life like that, however, may greatly increase risk of heart attack and stroke.
I used Grok as an AI assisted search and received this summary:
Long-term hostility and high-stress emotional states, such as chronic anger, anxiety, or depression, are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke, as well as certain immune-related conditions. Studies suggest the risk can be 2–5 times higher, depending on the condition and context.
For example:
– **Cardiovascular Disease**: Research, including studies from the American Heart Association, shows chronic stress and hostility contribute to inflammation, elevated blood pressure, and atherosclerosis, increasing heart attack and stroke risk by 2–3x in some populations.
– **Immune-Related Conditions**: Prolonged stress can dysregulate the immune system, increasing susceptibility to conditions like autoimmune disorders or chronic inflammatory diseases, with some studies indicating a 2–5x risk increase for specific conditions.
Mechanisms include elevated cortisol, sympathetic nervous system overactivation, and inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein. However, exact risk multipliers vary based on individual factors (e.g., genetics, lifestyle) and study design.
