Can negative emotions have an adverse impact on the body?

Yes. With respect to general health, well-established links have been found between anxiety, stress, and anger, and the development of cardiovascular disease (Mostofsky, Maclure, Tofler, Muller, & Mittleman, 2013; Roest, Martens, de Jonge, & Denollet, 2010). "The chronic experiences of negative emotions can influence the development of disease via cumulative effect" (DeSteno, Gross, & Kubzansky, 2013, p. 476). Further, negative emotions can produce adverse health outcomes indirectly by influencing decisions and choices (DeSteno et al., 2013). For instance, "anxiety eaters" may gain unhealthy amounts of weight, and serious depression can leave people without the energy to interact with other people or exercise.