Good marriages lower stroke risk in men

We’ve blogged in the past about the physical health benefits of being in a good marriage.  Research has shown how successful personal relationships can list lower rates of heart attacks, better immune functioning, and increased coping skills among the many positive outcomes.  And here is another: good marriages are connected with a lower risk of stroke in men.  Recent research out of Tel Aviv University and presented at the American Stroke Association meeting in San Antonio found that single men had a 64% higher risk of fatal stroke than married men.  This was after controlling for other factors, such as obesity, blood pressure, smoking and existing diabetes and heart disease.  Married men were also given the opportunity to evaluate their marriage.  Most tellingly, those that rated their marriage as successful had a 64% lower risk of a fatal stroke as those who rated their marriage as dissatisfying.  This was an unexpected, yet statistically significant, result for the researchers.

This research is based on longitudinal data kept on over 10,000 male civil servants and municipal workers from 1963 through 1997.  The authors disclose that it’s possible that living situations may have changed in the last four decades and may not be readily expanded to other populations.  And women were not included in the research.  However, these findings coalesce with existing research showing that good marriages enhance physical well-being as well as emotional health.

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Adapted from materials released from the American Heart Association