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Happy Marriage, Happy Heart{{/B}} Happily married people have lower blood pressure {{U}}(51) {{/U}} unhappily married people or singles, a Brigham Young University study says. On the other hand, even having a supportive social network did not translate into a blood pressure benefit for singles or unhappily {{U}}(52) {{/U}}. people, according to the study. "There seem to be some unique health benefits from marriage. It's not just being married {{U}}(53) {{/U}} benefits health - what's really the most protective of health is having a happy {{U}}(54) {{/U}}," study author Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist who specializes in relationships and health, said in a prepared statement. The study included 204 married and 99 {{U}}(55) {{/U}} adults who wore portable blood-pressure monitors for 24 hours. The {{U}}(56) {{/U}} recorded blood pressure at random intervals" and provided a total of about 72 readings. "We wanted to capture participants' blood pressure doing whatever they normally {{U}}(57) {{/U}} in everyday life. Getting one or two readings in a clinic is not really {{U}}(58) {{/U}} of the fluctuations that occur throughout the day,"4 Holt-Lunstad said. Overall, happily married people scored four points {{U}}(59) {{/U}} on the blood pressure readings than single adults. The study also found that blood {{U}}(60) {{/U}} among married people -- especially those in happy marriages- {{U}}(61) {{/U}} more during sleep than in single people. "Research has shown that people whose blood pressure remains high throughout the night are at {{U}}(62) {{/U}} greater risk of heart disease than people whose blood pressure drops," Holt-Lunstad said. The study was published in the March 20 {{U}}(63) {{/U}} of the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine. The study also found that unhappily married 'adults have higher blood pressure than {{U}}(64) {{/U}} happily married and single adults. Holt-Lunstad noted that married couples can encourage healthy habits in one {{U}}(65) {{/U}}, such as eating a healthy diet and having regular doctor visits. People in happy marriages also have a source of emotional support, she said. |