Health Conditions / Digestive Health

Just in case you haven’t heard this enough yet: You should really, really be washing your hands well and often. It’s one of the most important things you can do to avoid norovirus, a nasty stomach bug that’s making lots of people sick lately.Reported cases of the gastrointestinal virus, which tends to cause horrible diarrhea and vomiting for roughly one to three hellish days, have steadily risen in the United States since August 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Confirmed infections are climbing across the country but were highest in the southern and northeastern regions as of late February.   Norovirus, which is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis (a.k.a. the stomach flu) spreads like wildfire, often through direct contact with someone who’s infected—say, by caring for a sick person, or by sharing food or eating utensils with them. You can also get norovirus by touching contaminated surfaces, like a door or toilet handle, and then touching your face with unwashed hands.Experts aren’t totally sure why there’s such a noticeable uptick in cases, but it’s worth noting that norovirus is somewhat seasonal, Christopher Cao, MD, an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, tells SELF. “It’s a year-round [virus], but we hear about it more in the winter,” Dr. Cao says. (Research suggests the virus fares better at lower temperatures. Per the CDC, cases tend to increase and persist in the late fall, winter, and early spring.)Trust us, you don’t want to deal with this pathogen. The symptoms of norovirus are pretty intense—and chances are, you’ll quickly know something’s up once they hit. Here are the most common signs of norovirus to watch out for—and when it’s time to see a doctor if you’re feeling super sick.1. Terrible stomach cramping or painIt’s easy to write off an upset stomach, but the abdominal cramping and pain typically caused by norovirus will be hard to ignore. Many people also experience uncomfortable nausea, per the CDC.2. Diarrhea, vomiting, or bothNorovirus often cause persistent diarrhea and vomiting—sometimes both at the same time, Rabia A. De Latour, MD, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone, tells SELF. Per the CDC, it isn’t unusual to feel “extremely ill” and experience diarrhea or vomiting multiple times a day if you’re infected with norovirus. (That said, norovirus shouldn’t cause any blood in your stool.)3. Body aches and other flu-like symptomsYour GI tract may not be the only part of your body that’s in pain: Norovirus can also cause muscle aches (similar to those caused by the flu), fatigue, and headache, per the CDC. These are common symptoms of many infectious illnesses; when your immune system jumps into action to fight the harmful pathogen, your protective cells trigger inflammation, which can lead to soreness and make you feel really tired.  4. Fever and chillsA low-grade fever—meaning your temperature is somewhere between 99.6 and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit—is a normal symptom of norovirus, as are the chills. Like muscle aches, a fever can be a sign that your body is fighting an infection, and it can cause you to feel clammy or sweaty.5. Signs of severe dehydrationBecause norovirus can cause seemingly nonstop diarrhea and vomiting, it’s essential to be aware of your fluid intake once symptoms hit, Dr. Cao says: “One of the most frequent symptoms we see in patients is dehydration.” This, in turn, can lead to muscle cramps, headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness, dark-colored urine, dry mouth, exhaustion, or feeling confused, as SELF previously reported.When to see a doctor about norovirus symptomsIf you have any of the potential norovirus symptoms above and they don’t settle down after 48 hours, it’s time to seek medical care, Dr. De Latour says. If you have a primary care doctor and you’re able to get an appointment with them, that’s a good place to start. (If not, consider visiting an urgent care center, especially if you can’t keep any food or fluids down.) If your health care provider suspects something else is causing your symptoms, they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you might be feeling overwhelmed. Maybe the diagnosis came as a complete surprise—or maybe you had a gut feeling (literally) about it and are continuing to deal with symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue, and the urgent need to run to the bathroom. Either way, plenty of others are in your position: About 3 million Americans have some form of IBD, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.While you’re figuring out a treatment plan, facing the unknowns about how Crohn’s can affect your day-to-day can be intimidating—like, what are the first steps to navigating life with the condition? To find out, we asked seven people with Crohn’s disease to share advice, insight, and guidance for those who just received a new diagnosis.1. Ask for help from those around you.It’s common to feel uneasy about asking for help, especially if you’re not used to it. If that’s how you’re feeling, it might be because the notion of being vulnerable with others makes you feel anxious. Or maybe you just find it awkward to talk about poop and the related bodily functions affected by Crohn’s. However, learning how to ask for help is crucial for not only accepting your diagnosis, but managing it too. After all, support is available in many forms. The first step? Talk to friends and family about your condition, especially when you’re not feeling well. “Obviously, everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to sharing this stuff. However, I’ve found people are more accepting and understanding when [I’m] more honest about what I’m dealing with,” Heather Cobb, a grade school teacher with Crohn’s disease, tells SELF.Makeda Armorer-Wade, the author of Crohn’s Interrupted: Living Life Triumphantly, tells SELF that allowing help from others positively affects her experience with Crohn’s disease: For instance, she established connections with two coworkers who were eager to lend a hand. “Occasionally, they would pick up my medicine,” Armorer-Wade recalls. And when she experienced a flare-up at work, they were happy to bring her supplies from her car, allowing her to stay close to the bathroom. These interactions not only allowed Armorer-Wade to function better at work, but also helped her with the emotional support she needed to get through her day.2. Seek a therapist for professional guidance.After receiving your diagnosis, you may (understandably!) be feeling a whirlwind of uncomfortable emotions, like grief, shock, and anxiety. That’s where care from a licensed therapist or counselor can make all the difference.“A chronic illness like Crohn’s disease impacts every aspect of your life, including your mental health,” Gaylyn Henderson, founder of the advocacy organization Gutless and Glamorous, tells SELF. You might feel like you don’t have anyone to talk to, or maybe you’re embarrassed to discuss what you’re going through, Henderson says. This can be isolating, which is why she recommends speaking to a therapist (bonus points if they specialize in chronic illness) who can teach you how to understand and process your feelings.3. Find a health care team you work well with.As there’s no cure for Crohn’s disease yet, you’ll need to frequently work with a medical team to stay on top of treatment—so it’s critical to find one that it’s in for the long haul, Katie (Gokhshteyn) Riggio, a new mom and technical writer who has Crohn’s disease, tells SELF. “Take your time to find doctors who specialize in IBD and are easily accessible. Most importantly, look for doctors who you can trust [and] feel comfortable with,” she advises.

Some people with Crohn’s disease develop food-related anxieties, and because eating and pain often go hand in hand, they wind up restricting how much they eat or skipping meals to avoid getting sick.3 “These fears become problematic when people begin to have very restrictive diets, avoid meals for fear of symptoms, or constantly worry about how a food will potentially impact them,” Megan Riehl, PsyD, a psychologist specializing in gastroenterology and the clinical program director of the GI Behavioral Health Program at the University of Michigan, tells SELF. You can alleviate some of this stress by learning about how different ingredients impact your symptoms, reading food labels, and studying menus before going out to eat. These adjustments are often hard work and can be a lifelong process—which is why Dr. Riehl recommends working with a dietitian who specializes in GI conditions like Crohn’s. They can help you identify foods that can trigger symptoms and share meal ideas to make the whole meal-planning process feel a little less overwhelming. Coping with body image issuesCrohn’s—and the medications prescribed for it—can cause uncomfortable bloating, rapid weight loss, and acne, which, in turn, can affect your self-esteem and self-confidence, Dr. Sileo says. “When you’ve lost 20 pounds and you don’t resemble yourself, it can really take a toll on how you feel about yourself,” he says. It’s easy, given the uncertainty of Crohn’s, to hyperfocus on something you may feel like you can control, like your appearance, Dr. Keefer says. You might criticize your body for suddenly looking so different or avoid social plans because you think you don’t look “good.”4 “Those are mean things we do to ourselves as a way to bring back control” when facing a condition that’s frequently uncontrollable, she says. Try to reframe your POV when you look at yourself, Dr. Keefer recommends. For example, if you’re struggling with fatigue, instead of focusing on your eyes being bloodshot or puffy, take note of the shape and color of your eyes. Observing, not evaluating, your attributes, can drown out some of the harsher critiques you may tell yourself. “Just describe your body, don’t judge it,” Dr. Keefer says. Figuring out how Crohn’s fits into your relationships The symptoms of Crohn’s, like bowel incontinence, can cause people to feel unattractive or unhygienic, research shows,4 which may lead you to isolate or otherwise back away from close relationships. There’s also the added pressure of knowing whether you should keep some boundaries in place or be an open book about what it’s like to have Crohn’s.Dr. Keefer says she’s treated many people who felt as though their relationships crumbled because they didn’t share, for example, that their fatigue prevented them from being able to go out or that their body image struggles soured their mood on a date. It can be uncomfortable to coach your SO on how to vouch for you if you end up in the ER and need treatment, or what to do if your symptoms strike during a sleepover. It can be equally tricky to figure out when to disclose you have Crohn’s and how the disease impacts your daily life. And then there’s the whole topic of dating—some people with Crohn’s use medical devices like a colostomy bag or J-pouch—so explaining and educating your partners about how these tools affect romantic relationships can feel embarrassing and uncomfortable.

If you were recently diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, you probably have all kinds of questions about what comes next. One of the most overwhelming thoughts you may have post-diagnosis: Will I need to be on meds forever?The truth is, Crohn’s—and all forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), for that matter—doesn’t have a cure yet,1 so the goal of treatment is to keep flare-ups under control and prevent further damage to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Once you and your doctor land on a care plan that accomplishes these things and works for your lifestyle, you should be able to go about your day-to-day life generally symptom-free.Until you reach that milestone, you can empower yourself by learning about the steps you and your doctor should take to figure out the best path forward for you. Below, experts break down the basics of Crohn’s disease treatment—including how it works, how long most people need it, and how to cope with the stress of managing this chronic illness. First, what does Crohn’s disease treatment usually look like? Because Crohn’s disease symptoms—and GI damage caused by the disease—stem from chronic inflammation, most first-line treatments aim to stunt that inflammatory process, the NIDDK notes. But the treatment your doctor recommends will ultimately depend on how much of your bowel is inflamed and how badly, Zoe Gottlieb, MD, an assistant professor of gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, tells SELF. Some Crohn’s disease treatments—such as oral corticosteroids—help reduce symptoms quickly when they strike (a.k.a. a flare-up).2 Other drugs—oral immunomodulators or biologics, which are given via regular injections or IV infusions—help control the disease long-term by slowing or stopping the inflammation response. Some people who have severe Crohn’s complications may need surgery to remove the affected part of their intestines.1Each person’s experience with Crohn’s disease is different, so each person’s treatment journey is unique too. You may need to try a combination of meds until you find the right ones for you, or switch your meds up if you stop responding to them over time.3 Working with a board-certified gastroenterologist who specializes in IBD can help streamline the process, Sarah Streett, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist and the director of inflammatory bowel disease education at Stanford Health Care, tells SELF.Because your treatment can heavily influence your daily routines, your doctor should work with you to find a medication regimen you both feel good about. For example, if you travel a lot for work, you may prefer to do at-home injections rather than in-office IV infusions if you’re on a biologic. Or, if needles make you feel squeamish, it may be easier to have a health care provider insert an IV rather than injecting the medicine yourself. “We want patients to start therapies they will be comfortable being on in a long-term way,” says Dr. Gottlieb. 

I eventually turned to the internet to find other people who were going through the same thing. Through social media—specifically Instagram—I found a lively, empathetic community. I was able to connect with others who were also struggling, share thoughts and questions about treatment plans, and foster emotional connections with people who understood what it was like to live with this condition. This really helped me move forward after my diagnosis, and I always recommend that people who are newly diagnosed with Crohn’s find a community they can turn to for support.Taking a flexible approach to my diet and lifestyleAfter my diagnosis, I tried many diet changes to see if modifications could help improve my symptoms. There hasn’t been a one-size-fits-all solution for me, so I adjust my diet depending on how I’m feeling. I tried an elimination diet—which you should do under the supervision of a doctor or a dietitian—when I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s to see if there was a specific food that was triggering symptoms. I found that certain fruits and vegetables made my symptoms worse, and how they were cooked was also a factor. Products containing gluten also worsened my symptoms, so I stuck to a gluten-free diet for years, which seemed to help. I would also stick to a liquid diet during a flare-up to make things more digestible. In my early 20s, I still drank alcohol—at brunch, happy hours, and wine nights. Now, I only drink wine when I decide to enjoy a bit of booze. Similar to food, I just have to take it as it comes and see what feels right. After having my son in 2020, my body changed a lot, so now there are new things that bother me and gluten is back on the table for me to eat. I’m constantly reassessing how something makes me feel because I’ve learned flexibility is key. Ultimately, I’ve found that food isn’t the biggest trigger for me anyway—stress and lack of sleep are. Practicing patience in my treatment journeyFinding the right Crohn’s treatment hasn’t been easy, so I’ve had to be patient and accept that it’s a trial-and-error process. When I was first diagnosed, I started taking antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication like steroids. None of those worked well for me, so I started on a biologic medication, a series of injections that were administered every six weeks or so. I tried that for about a year without any real success, so my doctor switched me to a different biologic drug that’s given as an intravenous infusion. For more than five years, I’ve received this treatment every six to eight weeks, and it’s been the most successful so far. I hope to continue it as long as possible. I also take my mental health very seriously and that has played a big role in managing my Crohn’s and helping me feel at peace. I go to therapy regularly to help reduce stress and anxiety and to help me better handle the uncertainty the disease creates in my life.Being honest about my limitationsDealing with the unpredictable flare-ups that are characteristic of Crohn’s disease was a lot more difficult when I was in my 20s, when I had a robust social life and worked in an office. At that point, it caused me a ton of anxiety to be sick in public or to have to let people down, whether it be friends or colleagues. Now, I am a lot more comfortable being open about my health. I work 100% remotely, I identify as disabled with my employer so they understand if I need accommodations, and my friends and family all know my situation so I don’t feel pressure if I have to cancel plans. 

During your regular visits, your doctor may order blood work if you’re experiencing symptoms that seem to be outside your norm. If they detect a deficiency, they may recommend taking a supplement to fill that gap, Dr. Hart says. Your doctor can help you determine the best dosage for a supplement and recommend products accordingly. You may notice some pretty intense weight loss.Malabsorption of nutrients can also spell trouble because those nutrients give you energy and help your body perform all sorts of essential functions. So, naturally, if you don’t get enough of them, you might start to experience unintentional weight loss, Nuzhat Ahmad, MD, vice chief of gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, tells SELF. This can be really unsettling—especially if the weight drops quickly and you start to feel weakness or heavy fatigue.Again, this can feel kinda stressful if it happens to you, but there are solid treatment options available to help you feel better. Dr. Ahmad points to pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). She says it’s the “cornerstone” therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. The prescription medication acts as a substitute for the missing digestive enzymes in your body, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Essentially, you would take PERT with your meals to help your body break down the food, so you can actually absorb the nutrients you need. As a result, your weight should hopefully go back up. And if it doesn’t, your doctor may recommend that you eat a high-fat diet for a short period of time, since high-fat foods are typically higher in calories, Dr. Ahmad says. Your bowel movements could feel a bit out of whack.For people who have untreated EPI, diarrhea is to be expected, Dr. Othman says. You may notice loose, watery, or frequent bowel movements, and this tends to happen because the food you’re eating doesn’t get properly digested and quickly passes through the GI tract. While it’s in your gut, “bacteria ferment that undigested food” and water collects around it, he says. Cue the diarrhea. If you don’t experience diarrhea, it’s likely that you’ll notice fatty-looking stool instead. (Think: pale, oily, and particularly pungent compared to your usual, per the Cleveland Clinic.) “Because the fat is not digested, you may see fat or oil droplets in the stool,” Dr. Othman explains. There may even be an oily residue on top of the toilet bowl after you go, he says. PERT should help with either of these issues since it helps your body break down nutrients in your food, which should, in turn, regulate your bowel movements, Dr. Othman says.You might experience stomach pain for various reasons.Another potential side effect of poor digestion, per Dr. Hart: gas pain or uncomfortable bloating. People diagnosed with EPI can also develop chronic pancreatitis, a condition in which digestive enzymes become trapped inside the pancreas instead of flowing out into the upper intestine. This can cause severe stomach pain, pain in the upper abdomen that spreads into the back, or stomach pain that gets worse when you eat or drink alcohol.

PERT is the main treatment for EPI, but some people may also benefit from adjusting their diet or taking specific supplements to fill nutrient gaps. EPI treatment may also need to be tailored if your doctor believes another health issue triggered it in the first place, Dr. Othman says. 3. Should I eat a special diet to feel better? Not necessarily, but Dr. Ahmad says “some patients may need a high-fat, high-protein diet if they are nutritionally depleted.” This is not recommended for everyone, but if your doctor determines you’re malnourished (which often presents as rapid weight loss), you may need to try this route.That said, it’s important to be aware of consuming too much fat if you’re feeling crummy already, Dr. Hart says. “Fat is really the weakest link in the chain,” he explains. “If a patient’s intake of fat exceeds the ability of their pancreas to digest and absorb that fat, they will develop symptoms.” In general, Dr. Ahmad says she recommends that her patients follow a “moderate diet that includes all food groups.” It’s important to remember that a daily diet is highly individualized. Depending on your symptoms, you may benefit from eating smaller, frequent meals, adjusting your fiber intake, or generally avoiding foods that trigger your digestive distress.1 If you’re already speaking with your doctor about your next steps, this is a great time to ask them about how you can get nutritional support, and whether they can help connect you to a clinical dietitian who can give you specialized advice.4. Do I need to take supplements to stay healthy?This depends on your personal situation, but your doctor may recommend that you take certain supplements to help you meet your nutritional needs. Because EPI can lead to malabsorption of many nutrients, your doctor should perform a blood test to see if you’re lacking appropriate levels of essential vitamins and minerals, Dr. Hart says. If they determine you have any insufficient levels of anything, you’ll likely need a supplement.People with EPI tend to have a harder time absorbing fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K, per the Cleveland Clinic. “Patients may also develop deficiencies of calcium, folic acid, thiamine, magnesium, and zinc and may require supplementations for these,” Dr. Ahmad notes. You should work closely with your doctor or a dietitian to determine what supplements you may need and at what dosage. They can also recommend a reputable brand for you to consider.Taking your enzymes with every meal should also help your body properly absorb nutrients, Dr. Othman adds. 5. Are there potential EPI complications I should be aware of? EPI can set the stage for complications, especially if the condition goes untreated.3 Complications are often linked to malnutrition, which can up your risk for hair loss, persistent fatigue, memory and concentration issues, muscle loss, osteoporosis, and mental health conditions like depression, among other side effects, per the Cleveland Clinic.

If you recently received a Crohn’s diagnosis, it’s understandable to feel a bit overwhelmed by the idea of having a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But learning about what comes next can help you take important steps to prioritize your physical and mental well-being.Depending on how long you’ve experienced symptoms, you’re probably aware that they tend to feel nonexistent some days (periods of remission) and pretty debilitating on others (periods of relapse or recurrence). Crohn’s disease flare-ups are tough to predict—but they’re to be expected for anyone living with the condition. “[A flare-up] is the time period when the inflammation of Crohn’s becomes active,” Aniruddh Setya, a board-certified gastroenterologist with KIDZ Medical Services in Florida, tells SELF.We won’t sugarcoat it: Getting through a flare-up sucks. Crohn’s disease symptoms like abdominal pain and cramping, heavy fatigue, and nonstop diarrhea can range from uncomfortable to straight-up painful, and they tend to get in the way of day-to-day life. Crohn’s is a complex autoimmune condition with no single cause or cure, but there’s some hopeful news here: There are many effective treatments that can help you feel better.1 You’ll also want to learn a bit more about what may cause your symptoms to resurface, so you can do your best to prevent them. Here’s what you should keep in mind if you’re figuring out Crohn’s flare-ups for the first time.What happens during a Crohn’s flare-up?“During a flare, your disease is active, meaning there is inflammation in the gut being driven by your immune system,” Matilda Hagan, board-certified gastroenterologist and medical codirector at The Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Disease at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, tells SELF. That inflammation drives the recurrence of symptoms, which can persist for months to years without effective treatment, Douglas Nguyen, a board-certified gastroenterologist with Providence Mission Hospital in Southern California, tells SELF. Other times, symptoms come on quickly and disappear as fast as they show up.It’s also common to have more severe symptoms during a flare-up, Dr. Nguyen says. This includes gastrointestinal symptoms like worsening abdominal pain, urgent bowel movements, or rapid weight loss, as well as systemic symptoms linked to chronic inflammation like intense eye or joint pain. All of these changes can also take a toll on you mentally and emotionally. In one 2019 study, researchers from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine tried to gain a better understanding of how people with Crohn’s describe their flare-ups.2 Here are a few responses that stood out to them:“I am tired and generally homebound and often stuck in bed and near a bathroom.”“The most impactful part is the lack of energy. I generally try to maintain my daily schedule, but by the evening I’m too exhausted to really do anything.”“It makes the simplest tasks seem impossible. My self-worth hits rock bottom.”“My family is affected by my IBD as they are constantly worrying about me, making sure I am feeling okay, and trying to help me fight back.”“I can’t do things I want to do.”

The holiday season is full of opportunities for boozy fun. A festive cocktail here, a mulled wine there. So, if learning how to prevent a hangover is at the top of your wish list, we get it.Before you hark back to your college tactics or old wives’ tales passed down from your parents, we’re sorry to say that most hangover prevention tricks just plain don’t work. When you drink too much, there’s only so much you can do while your liver clears the damage. But there are a few things you can do to ward off a post-party pukefest.What causes a hangover? Well, drinking alcohol—but you already knew that. There are several reasons alcohol can make you feel crummy. That’s because “alcohol is a toxin to the body,” Keith Humphreys, PhD, a psychiatry professor at Stanford University who researches the prevention and treatment of addiction disorders, tells SELF. As fun as it might be, you’re always going to be putting your body a bit through the wringer when you over imbibe.According to the Mayo Clinic, alcohol can cause dehydration, irritate the lining of the stomach (which is why you might feel pukey), expand blood vessels in a way that can cause headaches, and prevent you from reaching deep stages of sleep, which can make you feel exhausted. It also triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system and causes blood sugar to drop, which can make you feel weak and shaky and make it difficult to concentrate. All of these things can contribute to your state of misery the morning after.If you have fond memories of being able to throw several back as a college student without consequence, but now even a few drinks can ruin the next day, that’s par for the course, Dr. Humphreys says. “Our body’s ability to metabolize lots of things weakens with age,” he says. Alcohol is no exception.How to prevent a hangover before drinkingYou might have seen supplements that claim to prevent a hangover. Some say to take them before you start drinking, some after, and some say both before and after. But sorry, Dr. Humphreys says there’s no evidence they work—it’s probably a lot more marketing than science. There are some things you can do to help avoid a hangover before you start drinking, though. The first one? Eat, says David Seitz, MD, medical director for Ascendant Detox, a drug and alcohol treatment center in New York. “Eating food while drinking can help slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream and reduce the severity of a hangover the next day,” Dr. Seitz tells SELF.Some people say that high-fat or high-protein meals are better, but Dr. Humphreys says what matters most is that you eat a full meal, and that you keep eating as the night goes on. (Those gingerbread men aren’t going to eat themselves!)Another huge must: Drink water, Dr. Seitz says. “Alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration, so it is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages,” he says. That’s true before you go out, but also while you’re drinking and after you get home.How to prevent a hangover as you drinkYou’re less likely to get a hangover if you don’t drink much and don’t have drinks back-to-back. Keep an eye on both the number of drinks you’re having, as well as the frequency. One serving of alcohol (which is 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of liquor) or fewer per hour will give your liver a better chance of keeping up, Dr. Humphreys says.

Here’s what you should know about the many ways anger can impact your body in the long run, and what to do if you’re concerned about how it might be taking a toll on your health. 1. Heightened inflammation A growing body of research suggests chronic stress, as well as the negative emotions associated with it, is strongly linked to higher levels of inflammation in the body and dysfunctional immune system responses. Your immune system is designed to attack potential threats to your body with inflammatory cells, Dr. Duijndam explains. “With chronic stress, including anger, these markers of inflammation increase as well.” So even if you don’t have, say, an infection brewing, these inflammatory cells may start to get rowdy and go after healthy cells instead if you’re a person who deals with lots of anger, she says. That, in turn, can set the stage for various health issues, especially as you age. For example, a 2019 study that followed 226 older adults for one week found that those who had higher levels of self-reported anger were more likely to have higher levels of inflammation and a higher risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and even certain cancers. On top of that, constantly feeling rage-y can also impact your everyday habits, some of which may lead to further inflammation, or simply damage your health in other ways. “The significant confound we have in any of this research is that people who are chronically angry tend to engage in lots of unhealthy behaviors,” Dr. Martin says, such as smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating or loading up on food that isn’t as nutritious as it could be. “Those unhealthy behaviors will have an impact too,” he stresses.2. Heart disease“The bulk of the evidence that we have on the health consequences of anger really has to do with the heart and [the rest of the] cardiovascular system, and we’ve known that for decades,” Dr. Martin says. Try to do a quick body scan the next time your blood starts to boil—that is, take a moment to notice how the various parts of your body feel, one by one—and it won’t be hard to understand why anger can do a number on your heart. “When you keep ruminating in a state of anger, it leads to poor cardiovascular recovery,” says Dr. Duijndam. Again, that’s because “it keeps you in a state of stress.” Anger can spike your blood pressure and heart rate, two factors that place immense pressure on your heart muscle and therefore heighten the risk of chronic hypertension. An influx of stress hormones can also boost your blood sugar levels and blood fatty acid levels, which can damage blood vessels and lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, respectively. That’s one reason why regularly getting and staying angry could potentially play a role in conditions like cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. 3. Reduced lung functionQuick and shallow breathing is one of the first physical effects anger triggers for many people. “When we need to ‘fight or flight’ from a situation that’s threatening, it makes sense,” Dr. Duijndam says. It’s your body’s way of trying to supply more oxygen to areas it perceives as essential, like the brain and muscles. It follows, then, that strong emotions like anger are a common trigger for asthma attacks in those who are susceptible.