Hostility, anger, and depression predict increases in C3 over a 10-year period (Boyle, Jackson and Suarez), published in the BBI was today featued in the "Vital Signs" section of prestigous newspaper the New York Times..

"This may put those men at increased risk for hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease," said Stephen H. Boyle, the lead author of the study and a researcher at Duke University Medical Center.

Why these increases in C3 levels happen is unknown, but the authors speculate that anger in hostile and depressed men initiates a series of chemical responses in the immune system that lead to inflammation.

Taking steps to control hostility may be helpful. "There are interventions that appear to be useful in lowering levels of anger," Dr. Boyle said. "I don't know if their long-term effects on physiology have been tested, but if you’re less angry and hostile, that in itself is a worthy goal."

The study was published in the August issue of