Inflammation is a normal physiological process that protects our bodies from infection and repairs injuries.

However, overactivation of the inflammatory system has been associated with chronic illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease.

Dr. Emil Coccaro and his col¬leagues at the University of Chicago recently reported that people who are prone to angry outbursts also have high levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, which are blood markers of inflammation.

The study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry, compared volunteers with a condition known as intermittent explosive disorder to others without a history of aggressive behavior.

Levels of inflammation were twice as great in the aggressive volunteers compared with the controls, suggesting the potentially negative influence excess anger has on our physical health.