Marriage is good for your health

Though it certainly shouldn’t be the most important aspect in deciding to marry, research suggests that it is good for your health.

…this is not just a matter of opinion, it’s the conclusion of research carried out by medical practitioners. The United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC) recently reported that married people are generally healthier than individuals who are single, widowed, divorced and even those living with a partner.

This report was based on the findings of a study, which was conducted over three years and involved 127,000 adults. Researchers found that persons who were married were less likely to suffer from health conditions such as back pain, headaches and psychological or stress-related disorders. Additionally, they were less likely to smoke, drink heavily or be physically inactive.

The CDC is not the only one promoting the idea of a strong link between “coupledom” and well-being. Dr Dean Ornish, president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in California has declared that there is scientific evidence that intimacy is a powerful tool for healing.

In his book, Love & Survival, Dr Ornish argues that “love and intimacy are the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, what causes sadness and what brings happiness, what makes us suffer and what leads to healing”.

Read the full story (Jamaica Observer)