Happy Marriage = Happy Hearts
Having dedicated a chapter to relationships in “Heal your Heart”, and then reading about the squabbles and frustrations of husbands and wives, I thought I would weigh in on my 25 year experience as a cardiologist (not as a marriage counselor).
Bottom Line: A happy marriage is important to your heart because protective chemicals that improve blood flow, lower blood pressure and even repair damaged cells are released during hugging, kissing and other intimate activities.
On the other hand, when marriages falter, the risk of cardiovascular events increases. For example, recent studies show that progressive lack of intimacy- an early sign of a troubled marriage- raises the risk of stroke in women and heart attacks in men.
So as we begin a New Year, here are several tips that I recommend to my patients who want to maintain a happy/healthy heart and marriage.
- For men: physical issues, such as ED…common with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and certain medications, should be evaluated by your physician . Don’t deny it- take care of it.
- For Women: we may be stubborn and hardheaded but underneath is a relatively simple, softhearted guy with needs, including striving to make his partner happy.
- For Men: always express gratitude and help out to lighten her burden. It will work wonders and help to keep your marriage happy/healthy and young at heart.
BONUS: from my 101 year old father-in-law:
For Men: “please the wife”
For Women: “count slowly to 10 before you smack ’em”
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Dr. Michael Miller is Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His publications include 250 scientific articles and 20,000 citations.
Michael Miller, MD
MASPC, FACC, FAHA, FNLA
Dr. Miller is a leading cardiologist and heart health expert whose pioneering research on positive emotions, diet, and physical activity supports the integration of all three modalities for optimal vascular health.