What we do know is that persistent anger can be detrimental to your health. Because heart disease is associated with higher risk for stroke, anger may also be secondarily associated with this malady. There is also evidence that the increased blood pressure triggered by anger can over time lead to kidney malfunction. People with chronic anger are more likely to have suppressed immune systems. Since many chronically angry people also suffer from chronic stress, they are more at risk for gastrointestinal problems, specifically decreased gut motility and irritable bowel syndrome.
Stress also figures prominently in headache and increased incidence of musculo-skeletal pain.
Anger and the effects of adrenalin are often compared to revving an engine at high rpms. The result over a sustained period is a shorter life span for the engine. This is probably true for the chronically angry individual as well. In addition to the physical toll that anger visits on the body, there are significant negative psycho-social aspects. Chronically angry people have more relationship and professional difficulties that further exacerbate stress and anger levels.