There is even more proof that an unhappy
marriage is bad for your health, researchers reported.
The stress that comes from discord appears to slow the
initial production of a blood protein that is key to healing
wounds, the report from Ohio State University said.
Quarreling couples studied in a laboratory setting had
a slower wound healing process than when they were not
arguing, as measured by how rapidly blisters healed. The
blisters were deliberately inflicted on the test subjects
by using a vacuum pump on the arm.
"Couples who demonstrated consistently higher levels
of hostile behaviors ... healed at 60 percent of the rate
of low-hostile couples," said the report published in
the December issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
The authors said there is already a sizable body of research
showing that marital disagreement causes adverse health
impacts ranging from high blood pressure and depression
to the ability to cope with heart disease and heart failure.
"Although loss of a spouse can provoke adverse mental
and physical health changes, the simple presence of a
spouse is not necessarily protective. A troubled marriage
is itself a prime source of stress," the study said.
The Ohio State study involved 42 married couples, aged
22 to 77. They were tested twice -- first in a social
setting and then again when they were told to get into
disagreements.
The authors said stress appears to slow the local, wound-site
production of proinflammatory cytokines -- protein molecules
produced by white blood cells that play a key role in
the early stages of healing.
But the study also found that couples with high degrees
of conflict had higher levels of the same cytokines generally
in the bloodstream the morning after an argument, compared
to those who were not in as much disagreement.
While greater early production at wound sites is beneficial,
the authors said, a higher systemic level is harmful.
"Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines have been
linked to a variety of age-related disease, including
cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis ... certain
cancers, and frailty and functional decline," the study
said. "Moreover, inflammatory activation can enhance development
of depressive symptoms."
