Regularly losing your temper could increase the risk of a heart attack, warn scientists from Harvard School of Public Health. Researchers analysed data from studies spanning four and a half decades examining the links between anger and cardiovascular events. They discovered that individuals who regularly experienced rage were five times more likely to have a heart attack following an angry outburst, while the risk of a stroke increased threefold. However, the risk following a single outburst was quite low among individuals who normally kept their temper under control.

Commenting on the findings, senior cardiac nurse for the British Heart Foundation, Doireann Maddock, said: “It’s not clear what causes this effect. It may be linked to the physiological changes that anger causes to our bodies, but more research is needed to explore the biology behind this.” She advised people to let off steam following a stressful day through physical activity.