Sarcastic, cynical, irritable? This study’s for you.

A new study published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing just identified “major tude” as a serious contributor to heart attack risk.

More specifically, the team of researchers from The University of Tennessee who penned the new paper determined that sarcasm, irritability, and cynicism are linked to higher mortality rates among populations with a history of cardiovascular incidence.

“This was one of the largest and most comprehensive studies examining the relationship between hostility and outcomes in heart attack patients,” the authors wrote in the new report.

The new research was conducted on 2,321 heart attack survivors. 

Attitudes linked to heart disease mortality

The average age of the participants was 67 years and 68% were men.

Each had their hostility measured at the start of analysis via the Multiple Adjective Affect Checklist (MAACL), which assesses for anxiety, depression, hostility, positive affect, and sensation seeking. About 57% of the participants involved were identified as hostile according to the MAACL.

Each was subsequently tracked for 24 months so the authors could log any deaths and/or heart attacks that occurred after baseline data was collected.

Hostility consistently stood out as a strong predictor of dying from a heart attack for those who have already survived one in the past. This correlation was actually established in the research literature more than 70 years ago.

“It’s not just a one-off occurrence but characterizes how a person interacts with people,” explained study author Dr. Tracey Vitori of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

“We know that taking control of lifestyle habits improves the outlook for heart attack patients and our study suggests that improving hostile behaviors could also be a positive move.”

Stress, anxiety, and depression also correlate with heart attack risk

The authors of the new paper were unable to support a causal relationship between hostility and heart attack mortality, but previously conducted research has plenty to say about temperament and chronic illness.

A recent study published in The Lancet determined that habitual stress corresponds with higher activity in regions of the brain responsible for processing emotions. Over time this increased activity can dramatically increase one’s likelihood of developing heart and circulatory disease.

Stress, anxiety, and irritability are also linked with blood pressure spikes.

“This could lead to ensuring that patients who are at risk are routinely screened and that their stress is managed effectively,” the researchers said in a media release.

In addition to contributing to neurological predictors of poor heart health, stress, anxiety, depression, and irritability often encourage us to delve into unhealthy habits, including smoking, overeating, and drinking. Each of these has been connected to an increased risk for heart problems.

So in addition to stopping smoking and eating a balanced diet, you’d be wise to turn down the hostility if you want to live a long life.