FREQUENT ARGUMENT CAN SEND YOU TO EARLY GRAVE

ARGUMENTS

 For many people, argument is a way of life. At home, they argue with their spouses, children and other relations that come handy for the caustic project.

At work, the practice continues. Instead of taking a deep breath and gently explain issues, they blow their top. The other person must listen to their “point of view” or the discussion won’t proceed further!

Ever heard of road rage? It’s usually attended by argle-bargle, especially when a road user has a brush at another’s vehicle. Worse still, the more eloquent the individual is, the more ferocious the altercation — he must win at all costs, even if it kills him slowly!

What about those who use public transport? An ordinary request to have a person shift a bit so as to allow another passenger sit a little more comfortably can set the entire bus aflame — argument-wise, that is. And for the next half an hour or so, the verbal missiles can continue to flow, sometimes resulting in fisticuffs.

And, are you a parent to teenage children? For many parents in this group, they seem to believe that the only way to get their teenagers to show a sense of responsibility is by shouting at them all the time or engaging in frequent confrontation that ends in ferocious verbal exchanges.

By the way, there are times you see people make phone calls and they behave as if they want to beat up the person on the other end! They gesticulate wildly, shout themselves coarse and may not even allow the person they are speaking with to contribute to the conversation as they wrangle away, burning airtime and energy in the process.

The cross fire may even be about inane issues that could be let go for the sake of peace, but because of some people’s disposition to violent reactions, they must make their views known — and in forceful, argumentative manner for that matter.

ANGER AND ARGUMENTS

But have you ever noticed one thing about argument? Those who indulge in it don’t smile while it lasts. In fact, the more vociferous it is, the more likely you are to frown and be angry. Any wonder that scientists are now warning that frequent argument can cut short your life!

A research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health warns that frequent arguments with partners, relatives, or neighbours may boost the risk of death from any cause in middle age.

WHY WE ARGUE

The researchers suggest that frustrations and disappointment with life seem to be responsible for most arguments. They also note that men and unemployed persons are most vulnerable.

They conclude that constant arguing seems to be the most harmful for health; and that supportive social networks and strong relationships are good for general health and wellbeing.

The scientists note that “frequent worries or demands generated by partners and/or children were linked to a 50-100 per cent increased risk of death from all causes.

Lead researcher and an associate professor of medical sociology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, Rikke Lund, warns: “Having an argument every now and then is fine, but having it all the time seems dangerous. They can cause a dysregulation of endocrine, cardiovascular and even immune system functioning.”

The science of the situation is easy to grasp, experts say. According to General Practitioner, Dr. Innocent Obi, since argument is almost always attended by angry feelings, it automatically leads to increase in the cortisol level.

He explains, “When you are stressed as a result of anger or argument, this stress hormone will be secreted into your bloodstream. When cortisol stays for a long time in your bloodstream because you are frequently in argumentative posture, it culminates in various negative effects.

“It could lead to impaired cognitive performance, suppressed thyroid function, high blood sugar, decreased bone density, decrease in muscle tissue, higher blood pressure, lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing and other health consequences.”

Again, scientists say, people who secrete higher levels of cortisol in response to stress also tend to eat more food — especially foods that are higher in carbohydrates — than people who secrete less cortisol.

And, of course, with more food, the tendency to acquire more abdominal fat as you gain weight is there. And as your abdominal fat gets dense, so also do you stand risks of heart attacks, strokes, the development of metabolic syndrome, higher levels of “bad” cholesterol and lower levels of “good” cholesterol — all of which can lead to other health problems!

If you are still not convinced that frequently arguing could send you to early grave, how about this: Scientists at Harvard School of Public Health warn that stress harms our physical and psychological health, leading to anxiety, depression and addiction.

Reproductive endocrinologists also say stress can affect a woman’s fertility. Researchers found that women with the highest levels of the stress indicator, alpha-amylase, in their saliva were 29 per cent less likely to get pregnant than women with the lowest levels

Worse still, Obi advises, frequent anger can increase your risks of heart diseases. He explains, “Emotions such as anger and hostility speed up the heart rate and breathing. And as your blood vessels constrict because of all these negative emotions, your blood pressure will also go up. All these activities cause wear and tear on the heart and cardiovascular system.”

To buttress this, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology states that “anger and hostility are significantly associated with more heart problems in initially healthy people, as well as a worse outcome for patients already diagnosed with heart disease.”

The bottom line: there are times that argument is inevitable, but don’t ever make it a way of life. Better still, once the other party takes the issue to negative level, step out and wait for more auspicious time to calmly discuss the issue.