Getting mad is good for your health

A new study has revealed that anger can have positive effects on our mental wellbeing.

Angry woman - World News - Marie Claire
Angry woman - World News - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

A new study has revealed that anger can have positive effects on our mental wellbeing.

Ever wished you'd taken a deep breath and counted to ten? If so you will be pleased to know that occasionally getting mad has been scientifically proven to be good for you.

A study at The University of Valencia has found that feeling anger can actually be good for emotional health.

Researchers induced anger in 30 men and measured their heart rates, blood pressure and levels of the stress hormones testosterone and cortisol, as well as scanning their brains at the start and at the end of the experiment.

The results showed that anger stimulated the left hemisphere of the brain, which is involved in experiencing positive emotions, as opposed to the right which is associated with negative emotions.

The left frontal area also triggers ‘closeness' which can increase happiness, whereas the right provokes fear and sadness, showing that getting mad can positively change how you see things.

‘Changes in cerebral activity also occur, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes,' says Dr Neus Herrero who led the study.

However getting wound up on a regular basis has negative effects on our physical wellbeing as permanently increased levels of stress hormones can be highly damaging to the body.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS

The leading destination for fashion, beauty, shopping and finger-on-the-pulse views on the latest issues. Marie Claire's travel content helps you delight in discovering new destinations around the globe, offering a unique – and sometimes unchartered – travel experience. From new hotel openings to the destinations tipped to take over our travel calendars, this iconic name has it covered.