If it is true that some of us inherit anger, we don't have to be completely at the mercy of our genes.

In the book Anger Kills, Dr. Redford Williams and his wife, Virginia Williams, write that about 20 percent of the general population has levels of hostility high enough to be dangerous to their health. About another 20 percent have very low levels, and the rest of us fall somewhere in between.

When we lash out, it is the lower part of our brain — the so-called "reptilian brain" — that has hijacked our body, Dr. Redford Williams said. But, humans have a cerebral cortex that gives us the capacity to reason, if we give it a chance. When angered, we can command our cerebral cortex to evaluate our anger — to determine if we need to take action to right a wrong, or to change our reaction to the situation.

Williams, who studies anger at of Duke University Medical Center, recommends the following anger management model, which can be remembered by remembering the phrase, "I Am Worth It."

For every angry situation, ask yourself four questions.

   I — Is this matter important to me?

   A — Are my thoughts and feelings appropriate?

   M — Is the situation modifiable, or is there anything you can do about it?

   Worth It — Is taking action "worth it?"

He suggests reasoning yourself when you find yourself getting mad. When you feel anger, ask yourself: Is my anger justified? Does the situation deserve continued attention? Do I have a constructive response?

For example, if someone cuts in front of you in heavy traffic, is your anger justified? It may be, Williams said. But does it deserve your continued attention?

He contends that no, it does not, because there is nothing you can do about it now. Shouting obscenities, blasting your horn or tailgating the other car is not constructive, and will only make your anger snowball and encourage negative health effects.