Smacking or shouting at your children may put them at a greater risk of cancer, heart disease and asthma later in life, a new study has warned. The study found the link could be caused because smacking and shouting at children causes them stress.

The increased stress levels then cause biological changes within an individual which can lead to serious health problems, the Telegraph reported.

Researchers from Plymouth University found the stress caused by the smacking or shouting in a child's early years may lead to biological changes which predispose to disease.