As 2003 begins and you consider adapting life-enhancing behavior changes, consider adding anger management to the list. In November, results of a second study on the effect of high hostility levels on heart health was released. The goal of the more recent study was to determine if hostility was an independent or contributing factor in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the 774 white men (average age 60) who participated in the study. Researchers assessed the men's hostility levels, blood lipids, fasting insulin, blood pressure, body measurement index, weight-hip ratio, diet, alcohol consumption, smoking and education achievement. They discovered CHD was more common in men with high hostility levels than in men with risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol and drinking. Results showed that hostility is associated with and predicts CHD above and beyond other traditional risk factors. In short, both studies showed hostility is harmful to our health.

Hostility is defined as negative beliefs about and attitudes toward others, including cynicism and mistrust. It usually rears its ugly head as anger, a valid emotion (emotion = Energy in MOTION) triggered by external and internal events that often inspires powerful, often aggressive feelings and behaviors. (External events might be a delayed flight, getting stuck in traffic or an unexpected loss. Internal events might be anger at a co-worker or family member.)

When expressed appropriately, anger can precipitate boundary setting and healthy relationships. When we "fly off the handle" and express the emotion inappropriately we often harm others verbally or physically. It's rare that inappropriately expressed anger solves anything.

Hostility is most dangerous to our health when it is repressed-especially if the repression includes eating or drinking too much or engaging in other behaviors to keep from dealing with our feelings.

Psychotherapist Helen Lerner, Ph.d. has written extensively about the roots of anger. (Lerner is author of the best-selling BOOK DANCE OF ANGER.) She believes exploration of our family can tell us much about how we react to the events that fly in the face of the course of action we believe our lives (and often the lives of others) should take. Instead of simply exploring anger, Lerner offers concrete guidelines to help us (learn to) express this powerful emotion in a way that can assure our feelings are appropriately, and healthfully expressed. You can find them at www.rondagates.com if you click on the button Smart Behaviors and look for "Anger Dos and Don'ts."

Practice these for the next month and by the time Healthy Heart month arrives (in February) you may have resolved some of those angry feelings and behaviors that keep you from enjoying life to the fullest (and good heart health) in 2003.