A headline I stumbled across last night really ticked me off. I mean, I was really steamed. I don't know why, but I just felt this incredible rage and wanted to strike out against the world.
It read: "Exercise May Ward Off Anger."
What, are you suggesting I have a freakin' anger management problem? Are ya, pal? Huh? So I get angry. You gotta problem with that? Want to step outside and settle this? Didn't think so, punk.
Uh-oh, obviously I didn't get my run in before reading the story on the WebMD site.
Ah, but after my morning run today, I'm pretty cool -- in fact, absolutely tanquilo -- with the preliminary findings of a University of Georgia researcher who tested angry people and showed that exercise (i.e. running) mitigates an angry mood and helps you better deal with bosses who tend to push your buttons or clueless, cell-phone-chatting drivers who cut you off in traffic.
The study suggests that, if you know you'll be facing a situation that'll make you angry -- say, another pointless staff meeting -- be sure to go for a run and finish 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. Exercise, the theory goes, boosts serotonin levels in a similar fashion as Prozac and its pharmaceutical brethren.
WebMD quotes researcher Nathaniel Thom as saying, ""exercise acted like a drug, protecting against angry mood induction, almost like takingg aspirin to prevent a heart attack."
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