Final answer:
Research has shown a substantial link between the suppression of intense emotions and health problems, especially cardiovascular diseases and a weakened immune system. Emotions like anger, hostility, and negative affectivity are predictors of heart problems, highlighting that emotional health is intrinsically linked to physical well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The health psychology professor's statement about the negative impact of suppressing emotions on health aligns with extensive research in the field. Studies have proven that there is a significant connection between emotional states like anger, hostility, negative affectivity, and depression with cardiovascular diseases. Negative affectivity, characterized by feelings such as anger, contempt, and fear, has been linked with hypertension and heart disease. For instance, individuals with high negative affectivity are more likely to develop hypertension, and those in the upper third for negative affectivity had a 32% higher chance of heart disease incidents compared to those in the lowest third.
Further confirming this link, depression and a combination of other negative emotional states like anxiety and hostility have independently predicted heart disease onset. This underlines the importance of emotional health as a substantial factor in overall physical health. Moreover, chronic stress is known to suppress immune response, further establishing the connection between long-term emotional suppression and deteriorating health. This substantiates the view that instead of suppressing emotions, finding healthy ways to manage them is critical for both psychological and physical well-being.
In conclusion, it is evident that while emotions can sometimes obscure objective judgment, their role in our health is undeniable. As such, the suppression of intense emotions can have serious, negative ramifications for an individual's health.