Together you're happier.
We always think of loving couples as being dedicated to one another, but we seldom stop to think of how marriage and the ongoing support of another human affects our long-term health.
Well guess what? It’s great for you.
In fact, researchers have found a number of profound benefits that partners’ bring one another that help lead to better health. This is particularly striking when you look at single men versus married men. Men who are part of a twosome on average live seven years longer than bachelors. Here are thre reasons why and how partners help each other to live longer and healthier lives…
1. Couples take care of each other.
They often schedule check-ups at the same time of year, and talk with each other about their health, and health concerns. Just having a partner say, “It’s been two years since you got a physical it’s time you did that,” can make a critical difference in creating the motivation to actually make an appointment.
As the state of medicine continues to make significant advances in developing cures for breast, colon, prostate, skin, and many other cancers, early detection can make the difference between life and death. Getting motivated by a pushy partner has acted as a lifesaver in many cases of what are today curable diseases.
2. Couples take greater safety precautions than singles.
Researchers cannot be sure exactly why this is true.Perhaps it’s the fact that they remind each other to buckle up when in the car or that smoking is an unhealthy habit. Whatever the reason, its one more way in which devoted couples increase each other’s longevity.
3. Supportive behavior increases longevity as well.
One partner, for example, who gets on a fitness kick and encourages the other partner to do the same. Diet, same thing. Or, perhaps one reads an article about healthy foods, or supplements and shares that information. Clearly couples take turns teaching each other how to better care for their health. Perhaps it’s just one more example of the old adage, two minds are better than one.
By now, undoubtedly, the cynics are saying, what about couples who develop bad health habits and encourage each other to continue, overeating, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, and following other self-destructive behaviors?
In certain instances this is clearly the case, but the dramatic longevity differences between couples and singles indicates that more often than not we help each other to a healthier lifestyle rather than taking each other down a path to early ruin.
Love is something we all hope will last a lifetime. It seems clear that most couples want to extend those lives just as far as they possibly can.
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Tick tock...tick tock...
MVL Valentine’s Day Countdown Tip #6:
For This Date, Go Outside of Your Comfort Zone
Even on special dates, we get into ruts: you know, fall into patterns of doing the same thing over and over again. You do the same thing, say go to a movie, or eat at the same restaurant. Perhaps you even order the same meal. You know the usual…
Well, not tonight. Suprise your partner – and yourself – by planning something totally out of character. No one is asking you to bungie-jump together into some abyss (figuratively, or literally). But do take the time to think out of the box to make this special date a memorial surprise: one you’ll both talk about for years to come. And remember: whatever you end up doing, your partner will love your surprise – and the fact that you worked so hard to take your relationship in a new direction.
