A recent report from Ohio State University evaluated whether or not emotional
stress affected healing. Forty-two married couples participated in the research
project in which they received small blisters on their skin (ouch!) and then
engaged in either a loving, supportive conversation or an angry, hostile
disagreement.
The researchers measured the concentration of immunological chemicals in the
blood and tracked how long it took for the wounds to heal. The results showed
that one hostile interaction slowed healing by almost 24 hours.
In other studies, medical scientists have demonstrated that in addition to
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking, hostility is an independent
risk factor for heart attacks.
Hostility means that you carry the belief that you are always carrying more
than your fair share, that other people cannot be trusted to meet your needs,
and that having an anger outburst is an acceptable way to express your
frustration.
If you score in the highest ranges of hostility, your risk of a heart attack
is as great as if you smoke a pack of cigarettes per day. Some studies suggest
that psychological stress accounts for 30 percent of the risk for a heart
attack.
We now have scientific evidence that bringing peace into your life is not
only good for your relationships, but also good for your body. If we needed
another good reason to bring peace to the world, we now have it.
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