How you argue with your partner could be significantly impacting your health and can even help experts predict future illnesses
University of California researchers found that different bickering styles lead to different health problems in later life
RESEARCHERS have revealed that arguing with your partner and the style in which you do it can be causing you serious health problems.
Scientists at the University of California found that it's not just the act of bickering that can be affecting your health, but also the way you carry out the fights.
They also claim to be able to predict future health problems based on different argument styles and a person's medical issues for 20 years after a 15-minute argument.
Although the study did reveal that the health links were more pronounced for men, there were some key correlations for women too.
The research followed the lives of 156 heterosexual couples since 1989 and found that outbursts of anger can cause heart problems later in life.
While 'stonewalling' or shutting down your emotions during a fight can lead to health issues such as stiff muscles or a bad back.
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Lead author Claudia Haase, of the University of California, Berkeley, explained: "We looked at marital conflict conversations that lasted just 15 minutes and could predict the development of health problems over 20 years for husbands based on the emotional behaviours that they showed during these 15 minutes."
Professor Haase continued: "Our study shows that these different emotional behaviours can predict the development of different health problems in the long run."
Researchers have been filming couples, who are now in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, talking about their lives and areas of conflict and agreement every five years since 1989.
Then, behavioural experts examine the interactions, including looking at facial expressions, body language and tone of voice.
They paid particular attention to whether participants pressed their lips together, raised their voice or tightened their jaws.
The subjects also completed questionnaires every five years and linked the results to any health issues or symptoms.
Those who were more hot-headed were more likely to develop chest pain, high blood pressure and associated cardiovascular issues.
While those who were 'stonewalled' by disguising their reactions or avoided eye contact tended to develop backaches, stiff necks or joints and muscle tension.
Senior author Robert Levenson said: "For years, we’ve known that negative emotions are associated with negative health outcomes, but this study dug deeper to find that specific emotions are linked to specific health problems.
"This is one of the many ways that our emotions provide a window for glimpsing important qualities of our future lives."
