BY J. STAMOS KOVACS

Anger – the fight part of the fight-or-flight response – can destroy your health, happiness and relationships. But that doesn’t mean that it necessarily brands you with the same tag as Mickey Rourke before his storied comeback in The Wrestler. Anger is a natural human emotion, and when you channel it constructively, it can be a powerful catalyst for change, driving you to speak out and solve problems.

So, how can we use anger in the right way? According to studies published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, Emotion, Journal of Family Communication & Journal of Behavioral Medicine, which identify the cardiovascular consequences of expressing, experiencing and repressing anger, you can take steps to ensure that your anger doesn’t get the best of you.

First, don’t just let it out. Screaming, punching, throwing objects and putting your knuckles through the wallboard aren’t cathartic experiences; these types of outbursts only ratchet up your anger, making you even less in control.

Second, don’t ignore angry feelings. Suppressing your anger because you believe that expressing it is somehow wrong or that you’re not that kind of guy is just as unhealthy as flying into a rage. Acknowledge your anger without acting out.

Third (your best and healthiest option), let your anger out, but keep it under control. Be conscious of your anger and learn to identify its true cause – that way, you can analyze it rationally instead of flying into a rage without really knowing the reasons. If you’re angry with someone, for example, talk to them about the problem assertively, not aggressively. Set out to solve the problem; don’t show them how pissed off you are. Also, be prepared for situations that provoke anger-some situations will trigger it more readily than others. Even better, work out strategies for avoiding anger-provoking situations.

The upside of channeling your anger correctly (we’re not talking about paranormal abilities here) is that you get to deal with the real causes, which will allow you to harness this very powerful emotion to get real results. Don’t and you’ll only rocket your blood pressure, negatively stress your cardiovascular system and, over the long haul, possibly shorten your life-the release of cortisol that eats away at your muscle tissue is a great example.

To find out how to keep your head in the game, pick up the January/February issue of Maximum Fitness -- on newsstands December 15, 2009.