The more that is learned about cardiac disease, the more it seems is not known.

This study, which ran for 20 years and followed 276 couples, identifies a marked difference in the effects of a strained marriage on the health of wives versus husbands.

There are, however, other studies which show that emotional stress is an important factor in men’s health.

Even though heart disease is the leading killer of men and women, what has become clear in recent years is that the disease affects men and women very differently—starting with the kinds of symptoms they experience.

Anyone, female or male, who has the metabolic syndrome symptoms listed below should work with their doctors to make changes necessary to reduce their severity or eliminate them when possible.

BBC

“Women are more likely than men to suffer damage to their health from being in a strained marriage, research suggests.

“US psychologists found wives in tense marriages were prone to risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

“In comparison, husbands seemed relatively immune from such problems.

“Details of the study, based on 276 couples who had been married for an average of 20 years were presented to the American Psychosomatic Society.”

…”Women in strained marriages were more likely to be depressed and to have a greater number of symptoms of metabolic syndrome.” (Emphasis added)

METABOLIC SYNDROME

High blood pressure

• Bulging waistline

• High blood sugar

• High triglyceride levels

• Low levels of “good” cholesterol

_________________________

“But although husbands in unhappy marriages were also depressed, they did not show signs of physiological damage to their health.

“Researcher Nancy Henry, from the University of Utah, said the team had expected to find that negative aspects of a bad marriage, such as arguing and being angry, would translate into both mental and physical problems for both sexes.”

Source: BBC, March 5, 2009

Citation Source: American Psychosomatic Society Presentation, March, 2009