Marriage is not just about love, confetti, and place cards. It turns out that wedded bliss has many health benefits. Perhaps it is the comfort of knowing there is someone at home to take care of you that provides both physical and mental benefits. Here are some health benefits that are now thought to be linked to tying the knot and staying married:
Better protection from heart disease – It is an advantage that most greatly affects men who are married. Being married has been shown to significantly reduce the chances of a man dying from heart disease. Having a wife might mean there is someone to make sure he goes to the doctor and takes his medication, but married men diagnosed with heart disease were almost half as likely to die after ten years as single men. Clearly other factors play a greater role such as age, lifestyle, cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure but next appears to be marital status!
Stroke – Those who are single or in an unhappy marriage have an increased chance of a fatal stroke. A study conducted in 2010 revealed that failed marriages had a much bigger impact on stroke figures than anyone would have expected. Unhappily married or single men have a 64% higher chance of suffering a stroke.
Aging – Growing older happier and staying married is the conclusion of a 2012 study published in the Journal of Research in Personality. While marriage does not necessarily make people happier, it helps people maintain a certain level of happiness as they grow older. This could be the result of the friendship that comes from still having a partner as you get older.
Less risk-taking – When couples get married, they generally engage in safer behaviour. There is less substance abuse, social isolation, depression, and promiscuity that can damage our health.
Live longer – A study of the last ten years shows that in Europe for men over the age of 40 mortality is twice as high for single men as it is for married men. This benefit was seen as lasting until at least the age of 89. So, if you want to enjoy a longer life, then getting married might be a good idea! To help capture the life-long memories made on your wedding day, think about a St Giles House Wedding from a site like http://www.nickrutterphotography.co.uk/blog/weddings/st-giles-house-wedding-photographer-dorset
Do better after surgery – A study of five years ago showed that those who underwent serious heart surgery had much greater survival rates after 3 months for adults who were married as opposed to those who were single. It has been argued that the treatment of the couple contributes to better outcomes for heart patients. A similar study showed better outcomes for married couples still in place fifteen years after the operation.
You could be less likely to die from cancer – A 2013 study viewed 1.3 million cancer patients suffering from a variety of different cancers. Remarkably, it was found that married people are less likely to have their cancer spread, more likely to get treatment faster and less likely to die from their cancer. Men seem to benefit slightly more than women, but the trend is recorded regardless of the type of cancer.
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