Beware the glare.
That`s the warning from researchers at the University of California at San Francisco who have determined that a hostile grimace may be evidence of an increased risk of heart attack.
The facial expression-characterized by narrowed eyes and angled eyebrows- is often vivid evidence that a person is truly hostile. And hostility-rather than intense, hard-driving, competitive behavior-is a key component of being coronary-prone, says Margaret Chesney, a professor of epidemiology at UCSF who has specialized in cardiovascular research. The reason: It puts the body through ”tremendous psycho-physiological” stress.
”It`s an enduring personal posture that the person takes when interacting with the world,” Chesney says, ”maintaining a cynical and suspicious attitude toward others.”
Instead of viewing others as ”fellow travelers,” she adds, a truly hostile person often regards others as merely ”taking up space on the road.” What to do if you find yourself glaring?
Re-evaluate whether what`s making you mad is really worth responding to
”as if it were the tempest of all time,” Chesney says.
”We`re not saying don`t get angry,” she says. ”But the key is to be selective.”