Anger is an emotion that nearly everyone will experience at some point in their lifetime. In fact, anger is a necessary emotion to feel because it acts as a form of protection from a possible threat.

However, if you find yourself developing tell-tale signs of rage frequently, you might have a short temper. Maybe you\'re frustrated at a server who got your order wrong, or at the car in front of you refusing to move quickly enough, or perhaps even losing it at your favourite sports team for blowing a lead—this may be pointing to something a little different, and more severe.

There are many understandable ways in which you can express your anger. For example, shouting, squeezing nearby objects, and even crying can be a healthy way of expressing your annoyance. But where a short temper is on display, anger is usually seen in an almost primal state. When this occurs, the person might:

Become easily irritated

Experience shortness of breath when they\'re angry

Feel their vision go blurry when upset

Experience an increase in blood pressure during a blowout

Have a racing heartbeat when confronted with the source of anger

A short temper is usually witnessed with very little to no warning; it is an explosion of emotion. Sometimes, this emotion can cause embarrassment for the person who expressed anger.

If you are prone to unpredictable and out-of-control fits of anger, this behaviour can leave you open to several social, physical, and even psychological issues. These difficulties can manifest in the following ways.

Social and Relationship Issues

When you have a short temper, everything from someone cutting in front of you at your favourite coffee shop or a subordinate delivering work late can set you off. While these are understandable reasons to get upset, it’s equally understandable that people may single you out and warn others about interacting too freely with you to avoid being on the receiving end of an angry reaction

If your anger manifests in public establishments, you might be banned from returning. 

Another sign that your anger has become a problem is noticing that people tend to walk on eggshells around you. If, after a few violent outbursts, you notice that your friends, peers, or colleagues choose their words carefully and appear to be on edge when interacting with you, this could be because they are afraid of triggering your anger.

Because people are so wary of your temper, you may be denied the chance to experience your loved ones fully and unreservedly.

Physical Health Issues

Heavy breathing, flushed skin, and pulsing veins are only some of the visible ways anger manifests itself. But, while all that is happening on the outside, your expression of anger might also lead to a wide range of physical health issues. 

Heightened Blood Pressure

If you frequently feel angry, you may eventually be left in a state where your blood pressure is perpetually raised. In fact, anger is so effective at raising blood pressure. It can even hinder the work your body does to lower your blood pressure as you sleep.

Moreover, it isn’t just your blood pressure that\'s at risk if you\'re angry often. Because anger can cause an excessive increase in the production of catecholamines and corticosteroids, which affect the body’s stress response, frequent feelings of anger can cause disorders in the heart\'s rhythm and issues with blood vessels. These effects are responsible for the common links between anger and coronary heart disease.

Anger Can Lead to Poor Health Choices

Too much anger can also impact your lifestyle. If anger is a major feature in your lifestyle, other negative traits have been proven to follow. 

Perhaps in an attempt to calm the nerves after a blow-up, or out of the guilt of yet again losing your temper— studies have shown that anger can encourage unhealthy lifestyles like smoking, consuming excess caffeine, eating high-calorie foods, or consuming copious amounts of alcohol.

Anger May Be a Risk Factor for Bulimia

Anger can also increase the risk of developing bulimia. Unhealthy role models, a distorted image of the body, and family members with the condition are known causes of bulimia. However, there is an increased chance of developing this eating disorder if someone frequently expresses anger.

The negative feelings derived from anger can be traced to the need to binge eat and vomit afterward. This link is higher in people with more impulsive traits.

Road Accidents Have Been Linked to Anger Issues

It’s normal to get upset at reckless driving or question slow drivers determined to add a whole hour to your commute. When caution isn’t exercised at the emotions we feel towards other road users, it can lead to devastating outcomes.

If you frequently experience road rage, studies have shown that a relationship exists between this behavior and road accidents.

This may happen because you’re too focused on your feelings, leading to poor concentration while driving. In some cases, anger can cause a loss of vehicle control, causing accidents.