Young adults who are short-tempered may face greater lung problems, says a study, the first to offer a detailed examination of the inverse link between hostility and pulmonary function.

Hostile or short-tempered people are often stubborn and impatient. They are frequently in fights or may say they feel like hitting something or someone. Such people often live isolated lives.

Anger and constant hostility also keep blood pressure high and increase chances of a man or woman having another health problem such as depression, heart attack or stroke, reported Newswise wire.

Teens who say they often feel angry and hostile also more often feel anxious, stressed, sad and fatigued. They have more problems with alcohol and drug abuse, smoking and eating disorders than teens without high levels of anger.

In a study of 4,629 Black and White 18-30 year olds from four metropolitan areas in the US, psychologists examined whether the tendency to be hostile went along with having decreased lung function in otherwise healthy young adults.

"Recent research also demonstrates that greater hostility predicts lung function decline in older men," the study's lead author Benita Jackson of Smith College said.

"It's remarkable to see reductions in lung function during a time of life we think of as healthy for most people," Jackson said.