The blood pressure of happy people in marriage is lower than that of single people

People who are happy in marriage have lower blood pressure than single people with supportive social networks. Both men and women in happy marriages have 24-hour blood pressure lower than singles 4 units. Although being helped by friends, the blood pressure of single people and those with unhappy marriage still does not get better.

Recent research shows that people who are happily married have lower blood pressure than single people supported by social networks, which suggests that marriage can literally be just 1 the problem of the heart only. Brigham Young University professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad has found that men and women in happy marriages have 24-hour blood pressure lower than single people to 4 units. Despite the help of friends, the blood pressure of singles and people with unhappy marriages does not get better, which surprised Holt-Lunstad and her two collaborating students.

Holt-Lunstad said: 'It seems that only a marriage brings these benefits to health, not just marriage is a health benefit but a happy marriage is really a factor. Best health protection '. Not surprisingly, the study also found that people who were unhappy in marriage had higher blood pressure than those who were happily married and single people. Holt-Lunstad - a relationship and health psychologist - has arranged for 204 married people and 99 singles to bring blood pressure monitors hidden in clothing for 24 hours.

Brigham Young University psychologist Julianne Holt-Lunstad found that the blood pressure of married people was lower than single people to 4 units.(Photo: Brigham Young University)

The machines measured blood pressure at random times during the day, even while the participants were sleeping. Each person's blood pressure level is measured about 72 times. Holt-Lunstad said: 'We want to take the blood pressure of the participants who are doing whatever they usually do in everyday life. Only 1 or 2 numbers written in a clinic are not enough to represent the fluctuations that occur during the day. ' All participants completed a list of the names of their social network friends and answered questions about the quality of those relationships. Married people also completed a questionnaire about the quality of their relationship with their spouse. Through day and night blood pressure monitors, researchers can see that the blood pressure of married people during sleep, especially those with happy married lives, drops more than with singles . Holt-Lunstad said: 'The study has shown that blood pressure is high throughout the night, the risk of cardiovascular problems is much higher than those with lower blood pressure.'

She said couples can promote healthy habits, such as encouraging each other to see a doctor and eat healthily. Husband and wife relationships are also a source of emotional support during times of sadness and joy. The Anthony Marchionne Foundation supports research on the well-being of unmarried people who have funded this study. The research is also funded by BYU's family research center.

According to Holt-Lunstad, the next step in this study is to study couples who have been consulted about marriage to see if marriage innovations make health better. Wendy Birmingham and Brandon Jones, two co-authors of the study, carried out this project while still undergraduates of BYU. Jones is currently studying medicine at George Washington University, while Birmingham is a Ph.D. in social psychology, specializing in behavioral medicine at the University of Utah.