Did you know it’s unhealthy to be hateful? I’m not being glib. There is strong medical evidence that the act of holding hatred in your heart can actually lead to long term health problems. Don’t just take my word for it, here’s what medical professionals think about this emotion’s effect on our bodies:

Hatred negatively impacts the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system. Extreme emotions trigger the release of stress hormones in the brain. Over time, these stress hormones lead to increased inflammation throughout the body, resulting in significant health consequences. The more intense an emotion becomes, the more physically demanding it is to contain it. Holding on to hate can be exhausting.

If only Turkish lawmaker Hasan Bitmez had known of this, perhaps he could have avoided his recent health scare. You see, Bitmez is a politician in his home country, and during one of his recent speeches condemning the actions of Israel in the recent Palestinian conflict, he exclaimed that the “Jews would not escape the wrath of Allah” right before collapsing from a massive heart attack.

A superstitious man might see this as a sign that perhaps their beloved deity did not approve of the message. Traumatic events can often act as a catalyst for change. Personally, I believe that it has far more to do with how much anger and hatred is in this man’s heart. His political career benefits from his near constant animosity towards Judaism, so its doubtful that he will ever be able to let go of his murderous hostility towards the faith. If there is any comfort, it’s that his body is quickly giving up on him as a result of his poor life choices.

I have a suggestion for Mr. Hasan. It would appear that your hatred towards your fellow man has made you unwell. You would do well to take a cozy retirement, and spend time with your loved ones while there is still life in you. I’m sure there are plenty of other Muslim politicians who would gladly take up your abhorrent mantle and openly call for the death of their enemies. You should learn to enjoy the good things in life before it’s all over. Our time on this earth is brief, and despite your belief that another life awaits you, I wouldn’t take the chance that the future affords you much time with the ones you care about. Focus on love. You’ll live longer for it.