No man is an island; we are all wired – literally wired in our brains – for human connection. Some would even say we live our lives in search of meaningful connections; and I would happen to agree with this sentiment. Success rings hollow if we don’t have a special person with whom we can share it with. Research also tells us that happy relationships not only make us feel good emotionally – but they keep us physically healthy as well.
Following are seven ways a happy marriage/relationship contributes to your physical health – and these are significant health advantages.
- People in happy, healthy relationships are less prone to depression & substance abuse. Scientific research shows people in committed relationships report less signs and symptoms of depression. Why? Social isolation is directly linked to higher rates of depression. And some researchers were surprised to discover that marriage (or committed couples) is directly related to a decline in substance abuse and problem drinking – especially in young adults.
- People in happy relationships tend to have healthy blood pressure levels, as reported in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Interestingly, this research reports that unhappily married couples did not have healthy blood pressure levels. So it is not just being in a relationship that makes you healthy; it is the quality of the relationship that is the most important indicator of a healthy blood pressure level.
- People in long-term committed relationships are less anxious. Research on anxiety reveals that a loving, stable long-term relationship trumps new romance for reporting low levels of anxiety with fancy brain scans proving this truth. Neuroscientists believe this is because solid, long-term relationships show activation in parts of the brain that are associated with bonding – and much less activation in the parts of the brain that activate levels of anxiety.
- There is a correlation between healthy stress management and social support. Maybe less anxiety contributes to the fact that people in happy committed relationships manage stress better than people not in these relationships. You cannot underestimate the value of a supportive partner who loves and cares for you when you are faced with stressful situations. We cope better when we have the emotional support of someone who loves us.
- People in positive relationships heal faster. A study was published recently in a professional journal which showed flesh wounds healed nearly twice as fast in spouses who had warm interactions with their partners as compared to spouses who had aggressive and hostile interactions with each other. How’s that for the Power of Love!
- People in happy relationships have fewer colds. Happy relationships give our immune system a boost so fewer colds are a by-product of this increased immunity.
- People in happy, healthy, committed relationships LIVE LONGER than people who are not happily married! A growing body of evidence suggests that couples who are happy and committed to each other live longer. Happy relationships contribute to a longer life because they provide mutual emotional and financial support. These relationships also keep the Grim Reaper away by keeping at bay feelings of isolation which lead to loneliness. To put it simply, people in happy relationships live longer because they feel loved and connected – giving them every reason to want to be alive.
Rekindle Romance and Happiness in Your Relationship,
Dr. Patty Ann
Following are seven ways a happy marriage/relationship contributes to your physical health – and these are significant health advantages.
- People in happy, healthy relationships are less prone to depression & substance abuse. Scientific research shows people in committed relationships report less signs and symptoms of depression. Why? Social isolation is directly linked to higher rates of depression. And some researchers were surprised to discover that marriage (or committed couples) is directly related to a decline in substance abuse and problem drinking – especially in young adults.
- People in happy relationships tend to have healthy blood pressure levels, as reported in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Interestingly, this research reports that unhappily married couples did not have healthy blood pressure levels. So it is not just being in a relationship that makes you healthy; it is the quality of the relationship that is the most important indicator of a healthy blood pressure level.
- People in long-term committed relationships are less anxious. Research on anxiety reveals that a loving, stable long-term relationship trumps new romance for reporting low levels of anxiety with fancy brain scans proving this truth. Neuroscientists believe this is because solid, long-term relationships show activation in parts of the brain that are associated with bonding – and much less activation in the parts of the brain that activate levels of anxiety.
- There is a correlation between healthy stress management and social support. Maybe less anxiety contributes to the fact that people in happy committed relationships manage stress better than people not in these relationships. You cannot underestimate the value of a supportive partner who loves and cares for you when you are faced with stressful situations. We cope better when we have the emotional support of someone who loves us.
- People in positive relationships heal faster. A study was published recently in a professional journal which showed flesh wounds healed nearly twice as fast in spouses who had warm interactions with their partners as compared to spouses who had aggressive and hostile interactions with each other. How’s that for the Power of Love!
- People in happy relationships have fewer colds. Happy relationships give our immune system a boost so fewer colds are a by-product of this increased immunity.
- People in happy, healthy, committed relationships LIVE LONGER than people who are not happily married! A growing body of evidence suggests that couples who are happy and committed to each other live longer. Happy relationships contribute to a longer life because they provide mutual emotional and financial support. These relationships also keep the Grim Reaper away by keeping at bay feelings of isolation which lead to loneliness. To put it simply, people in happy relationships live longer because they feel loved and connected – giving them every reason to want to be alive.