A new study shows that expressing anger is good for your health.
Researchers at the University of Jena, in Germany, found that getting your anger out and being hot-tempered is actually helpful in extending one's lifespan.
The study authors said that their research may even offer evidence to support why the more expressive Mediterranean peoples of Europe tend to live longer than northerners, reported UPI.
Six thousand participants took part in the investigation to see what holding back one's emotions can do to health.
The researchers found that those who repressed their feelings were particularly at risk for developing diseases.
Internalizing strong emotions raised the pulse rate of participants — a phenomenon that, over time, could lead to heart disease and cancer.
"These people are distinguished by the way that they attempt to conceal outward signs of fear, and also by their defensive behavior," said study author Marcus Mund, according to Medical Daily.
"They avoid risks and always seek a high level of control over themselves and their surroundings," he added.
"For instance, when exposed to a stressful task they exhibit a higher heart rate and pulse ratio than non-repressors and show other objective signs of stress and anxiety."
Despite the so-called repressors' higher risk of certain illnesses, it was also found that they tend to recover from diseases better than those who are more emotional, reported Science World Report.
The findings were published in the journal Health Psychologies.