John Hunter knew his anger might kill him. The renowned 18th-century surgeon once said his life was “in the hands of any rogue who chooses to annoy or tease me.” He was right to worry.
Hunter embodied the classic Type A personality. A driven man who labored long hours, he slept barely five hours each night. He was a highly successful and celebrated surgeon in his time. However, he was perpetually impatient and hostile, according to a historical study published in The American Journal of Cardiology. By age 45, chest pains signaled that his temper was already taking a toll on his heart.
