Heart Disease and Marriage

How much do you love your spouse? Do you love him or her enough to help reduce the risks of heart disease? Do you want your spouse to live a long, happy life with you?

New Report

Authors of a new report (October 2007) from a study done in Great Britain tell us that:

“An extensive body of research shows that social relations are associated with better health and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease.”

The study asked detailed questions about close relationships, focusing particularly on the marriage relationship. It concluded that those who had many arguments and negative interactions with spouses were 1.34 times more likely to have heart disease occurrences than those who had a low level of negativity in their marriages. Said the authors:

“… research shows that negative marital interactions are associated with depression, often in combination with reduced self-esteem and/or higher levels of anger. These emotional reactions have been found to influence coronary heart disease through the cumulative ‘wear and tear’ on organs and tissues caused by the alterations of autonomic [involuntary] functions, neuroendocrine changes, disturbances in coagulation [blood clotting] and inflammatory and immune responses.”

Equality

The study showed no difference between genders. Men and women both increased their risks of heart disease by arguing with their spouses. There was no difference, either, between those of higher social position and those of lower position in life. It didn’t seem to matter, in the cases of those studied, whether or not they had other good emotional and practical support in their lives. The negativity of a spouse was a stronger force. The authors of the study concluded that:

“It is possible that negative aspects of close relationships are more important for the health of individuals because of the power of negative close relationships to activate stronger emotions (worrying and anxiety) and the consequent physiological effects. In contrast, other more positive forms of support may not affect the physiology of individuals in a measurable or clinically relevant way.”

Conclusion

Married men and women need to work to be positive in their marriages. Observing good in the spouse and commenting on that good will go a long way toward avoiding added heart disease risks. Love is doing what is best for the one you love – and avoiding this risk of heart disease is a work of love.

CAUTION: The information presented here is for educational purposes only. If you have questions about marriage relationships and heart disease, please seek professional medical advice.

Note: The writer based this article on an adaptation of material in JAMA and Archives Journals.