How is your marriage? Marital Stress Can Harm Heart Health – 12/04/2022

Despite the challenges, the beginning of a marriage or union tends to be a stage of passion, fulfillment, and a mutual desire to make it a success. The partner or situation is new, and in general, daily discussions and disagreements are reduced. They are both willing to try anything to make the relationship work.

However, over the years, we know that the reality for many couples becomes very different. Coexistence can lead to a decrease in attention and patience, fatigue, and an increase in problems. Who ends up suffering the consequences? the heart!

Marital and heart crises

A survey conducted by Yale University in the United States indicates that the emotional state of marriage makes a difference in people’s cardiovascular health, especially for those who have already experienced or are predisposed to heart complications.

According to the study, the Stress The marital relationship can be involved in the risk factors involved in the health and functioning of the organ, in the diagnosis of diseases and in the recovery of cardiovascular events, especially Heart attack🇧🇷

Effects on the body

Marital stress causes our sympathetic nervous system—which is responsible for keeping us constantly alert and ready to fight or flee under any danger or threat—to metabolize glucose and prompt the release of hormones, such as catecholamines and cortisol, more intensely.

High production of these substances can, when repeated, increase blood pressure, blood levels cholesterol bad (LDL) f diabeticchanges in heart rate, blood flow, and breathing rhythm, in addition to causing blood vessels to constrict.

The process leads to wear and tear that builds up as the individual is under chronic stress. The result: psychological and physiological imbalances, a weakening of the body’s defense system, and effects on the structures of the heart and the integrity of blood vessels.

By the numbers

The purpose of the Yale researchers was to assess how a stressful relationship affects the heart and increases the risk of returning to the hospital after a heart attack. To do this, they looked at the recovery of 1,500 adults, with an average age of 47, one year after they had a seizure and were released from the hospital. The health data was then compared with information about the emotional and sexual quality of the marriage.

In short, according to the responses, four out of ten women and three out of ten men report acute marital stress. Among those who reported a high level of stress in the relationship: compared to the rest, they were 67% more likely to report chest pain and 50% more likely to be re-admitted to the hospital (this is for any reason).

Trigger for depression

A troubled marriage still exposes the individual to interactions that can lead to this depression🇧🇷 A condition that in turn affects heart health indirectly, through a predisposition to unhealthy behaviors, such as sleeping for too short periods or for too long periods, smoking, drinking, not exercising or taking care of food, or even directly, by Stimulate the production of stress hormones, which stimulate the physiological. reflexes and causing chronic awakening.

In the long term, the scenario can generate effects capable of causing hypertensive crisis, arrhythmia, coronary artery disease and even heart attack. If the individual already has a predisposition to underlying heart disease or is recovering from a cardiovascular event or procedure, the situation is more serious.

in contrast…

Another survey was recently published in heartthe official journal of the British Cardiovascular Society, indicates that marriage can reduce the risk of heart complications, such as heart attacks and brain attack🇧🇷 According to the study, people who are single, divorced or widowed have a 42% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The same group is also more likely to die from coronary artery disease (42%) and stroke (55%) – compared to those in a stable relationship.

In the survey, among the factors in favor of marriage: a greater likelihood of recognizing symptoms of diseases, motivation to continue treatment and support to face difficult times, in addition to greater financial security and greater well-being.

Is marriage good or does it cause heart problems?

More than clinging to the pros and cons of marriage in reducing risks and recovering from problems involving the member, what we mainly need is the overall quality of relationships.

If we stop to think about it, everyday life is indeed surrounded by moments of stress. And when we talk about heart health, one of the main bad guys is precisely this: It’s estimated that nearly 15% of heart attacks are related to stress crises. To get an idea, when we get into a state of extreme agitation, the chance of having a heart attack increases by more than eight times.

Therefore, just getting married is not enough. It is imperative that you have a quality in this relationship for it to be truly beneficial. Thus, we must invest in and seek environments where there is support, love, affection, respect and companionship. Relationships that help prevent stressful events and contribute to physical and emotional health.

Positive emotional connections are able to promote, for example, muscle relaxation and vasodilation, manifestations that act in the prevention of cardiovascular problems. In addition, it is worth remembering: hugging and snuggling in the arms of a loved one leads to the release of oxytocin, a hormone that contributes to lowering blood pressure and relieving stress.