What would your vote be? Yes or no?
We found a thought-provoking article put out by Psychology Today that confirms those of you who’d vote YES. It is true–your love life does affect your health!
Consider how closely your heart health (and more) is related to your love life when you read this excerpt:
The tone of your love nest factors into your medical status, too. Women in marriages full of hostility have more coronary artery disease than those in warmer relationships, while men in more controlling relationships (whether they are the dominator or the one getting bossed around) have more coronary artery disease than those in egalitarian marriages. Both situations likely activate stress responses, which are known to contribute to, if not cause, an array of ailments.
Soul mates can even develop the same afflictions over time—a condition in one spouse often places the other at increased risk for the same disorder. This may be true for cancer, stroke, arthritis, hypertension, asthma, depression, and peptic ulcer disease. One study shows that a person’s hypertension risk doubles when their spouse is diagnosed as hypertensive.
That’s probably because commitment typically leads to shared meals, activity patterns, financial resources, and social networks. Couples may also find themselves true partners in health by means of social control, in which one spouse tries to keep the other wholesome, and mood contagion, where one partner’s anxiety washes over the other and even takes a toll on his or her body: Men whose wives are upset by their work are nearly three times more likely to develop heart disease.
Communication is one of the most basic and important parts of any relationship. When we pair up in a relationship, we often end up with one person being more expressive and the other being more prone to keeping feelings inside. There is a benefit for those couples who learn to meet in the middle and communicate openly in a way that makes both people feel comfortable. Consider what the article has to say about bottling up feelings inside and how that affects health:
…women who “self-silence” during arguments with their spouses are four times more likely to die over a 10-year period than their peers who express themselves. These women (23 percent of the wives studied!) may be bottling up anger out of fear of the husband’s reaction. But suppressing feelings clearly has a negative effect on physiology, probably akin to stress damage, though the exact pathway isn’t yet known.
Bet you didn’t know just HOW much that bottling up those emotions could affect you and your health! These insights (and the changes you might make in response to them) could dramatically impact your life and even your longevity. If you’ve been ignoring poor communication for a long time, this Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to make a step in the right direction! For your happiness AND your health! If you are reading this as a single person, use this new info to choose wisely when you do find that special someone for keeps. Research shows that their habits, lifestyle and communication with you will ultimately affect your health.
Here’s to healthy bodies and love lives!
Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Belladerm!
To send your significant other a little hint about what you’re REALLY hoping for this Valentine’s Day, click here and fill in the form! Make it easy for them and get something you really want! It’s a win-win!
