Bad marriage can trigger a bad heart

Spousal arguments may lead to physical problems of the heart, not just emotional ones, according to new British research.

A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine says the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, increased by one-third when one encountered what they called “negative close relationships” – from spousal arguing to more serious, ongoing marital and intimate relationship problems, to arguing with or disciplining children.

“The possibility that negative close relationships are more powerful predictors of health than other aspects of social support is consistent with previous research findings indicating that individuals tend to mentally replay negative encounters more than they replay positive ones,” the researchers wrote.

The lead researcher, Robert De Vogli, a social epidemiology expert at University College London, said the findings debunk the long-held assumption that anyone who was married, was by that fact, more likely to be healthy than a single person. While that distinction appears not to be patently true, De Vogli said “quality” social relationships overall are good for one’s health.

The researchers said increased heart risk found among participants was not linked to the social and emotional support given to an individual, nor did it appear connected to either the participant’s sex or social status.

“It is possible that negative aspects of close relationships are more important for the health of individuals because of the power of negative close relationships to activate stronger emotions (worrying and anxiety) and the consequent physiological effects,” the British team wrote.