Marriage And Health: Study Suggests Marriage Can Help With Recovery After Heart Surgery

A new study suggests that marriage is good for your heart -- in more ways than one.

Researchers at Emory and Rutger's universities, have found that married people who have undergone heart surgery are three times more likely to survive the next three months, compared to single patients.

The study, published in the the March issue of "Journal of Health and Social Behavior", followed more than 500 married and single patients who were undergoing emergency or elective coronary bypass surgery. According to lead researcher Ellen Idler, married patients had a more positive outlook going into the surgery.

"When asked whether they would be able to manage the pain and discomfort, or their worries about the surgery, those who had spouses were more likely to say, yes," she told the American Sociological Association.

This isn't the first time that research has found that marriage can be good for your health. For years, studies have shown that married people are less likely get the flu, or even die from cancer. A 2009 study by Swedish researchers found that those who are married or partnered in middle age are about 50 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who live alone.

Comments

[mscellanus]

07:14 PM on 03/07/2012

Well if you have a heart condition, it's always good to have someone living with you.

[sfisher951]

06:26 PM on 03/07/2012

Aha - so here's another way that we LGBT people are being discriminated against. Because we can't married, we're at higher risk for complications after heart surgery. But of course straights don't have to contribute to our care costs because many of us can't even get health insurance because we can't marry each other and businesses are free to fire us in most places simply because we are gay. How's that for a gotcha situation? I guess we'll have to pray to the god who thinks we are sinners who will be going to hell after we die (from the complications no doubt) and hope the state (which thinks we're beneath contempt because we dare to love others with the same "plumbing") to help us out. America - what a country.

[PPPELOSI]

02:47 PM on 03/07/2012

This story needs a bit more explanation. If you are already married, that's fine. But marrying a gorgeous young blonde immediately after heart surgery may not pan out the way you'd like.