Laughter boosts the immune system and anger weakens it.

In one study, Harvard University scientists found that in healthy people, simply recalling an angry experience from their past caused a six-hour dip in levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, the cells’ first line of defense against infection.

Anger is also associated with heart disease. One study found that people who were prone to anger had twice the risk of coronary disease.

Anger also increases your stroke risk. A study found there was three times higher risk of having a stroke during the two hours after an angry outburst.

Anger is also linked to depression. Numerous studies have linked depression to repressed anger.

In order to release anger, you need to identify what you are really feeling by identifying your triggers. Anger is a secondary emotion. Most people who are angry are feeling fearful, hurt, ashamed, powerless, disrespected, unloved, etc.

You can release past hurts and learn how to express anger in an appropriate way. You can use nonviolent communication tools to express what you are really feeling and to ask for what you need.