A study of more than 3,600 men and women in Framingham, Massachusetts looked at couples who tended to bottle up their emotions during arguments with their spouse. Women who “silenced themselves” during marital disputes were four times more likely to die over the 10-year study period than women who always spoke up. (Men were not affected.) The risk of death did not vary whether the women reported being in a happy or unhappy marriage.
More recently, a 10-year study of more than 71,000 people showed that those who had a pre-study history of anxiety or depression were approximately 55% more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes than those without a history of anxiety or depression.
The findings were most pronounced among women under 50 with anxiety and depression, who were almost twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease risk factors compared to other groups.
The problem is that many doctors and patients themselves are unaware of the cardiac risks women face. Also, studies have shown that fewer women than men are referred to cardiac rehabilitation programs. Cardiac rehabilitation programs help limit the mental stress associated with heart disease, reduce the associated risk of mortality, and improve cardiovascular function to optimize patients’ quality of life. Additionally, women are less likely to be prescribed protective medications such as cholesterol-lowering medications. Use statins or beta-blockers to prevent future cardiovascular events.
Experts stress that lifestyle interventions are among the most effective and accessible tools for women to manage both their mental health and cardiovascular disease. These include regular exercise, improving diet and sleep patterns, and stress management tools such as meditation and deep breathing.
Read the full report for more details.
My wife has given me permission to look outside of our sexless marriage. Is that a bad idea?
During a live chat this week, a reader asked for advice about being in a sexless marriage.
It’s been over a year since we stopped having sex, before it was just a few times a year. Divorce would be awful because we have young children at home. My wife has given me permission to ask for sex outside of marriage. I don’t know what to do.
Even if your wife gives you “permission” to pursue sex outside of marriage, you’re going to need to have a really clear conversation about what that looks like. I’d also warn you that sex isn’t “just” sex. Sex involves emotions, and pursuing a sexual partner outside of marriage carries the risk of developing deep feelings for someone other than your wife. Are you ready for that? And what about this other person? Are you going to be totally clear that you’re only in it for sex? So that they don’t get attached.
I’ve interviewed people who, after accepting that their sexless marriages were beyond repair, hooked up with other married people who were also sexless. This arrangement allowed them to stay married to a partner they loved, and it also allowed them to enjoy physical intimacy again with someone who was not a “threat” to them in a sexless relationship that they wanted to maintain. Online dating sites make this arrangement possible.
Perhaps a better strategy is for the two of you to go to couples counseling and discuss what is going on. Would she consider medical testing? There are several explanations for why marriages become sexless. Some couples never had much sex in the first place. Others lose interest after having children, or one of the spouses cheats. Stress puts a great strain on a couple’s sex life, as do the daily demands of juggling work and family. Fatigue is often cited as a reason for not wanting to have sex. However, once a marriage has been sexless for a long time, it is difficult to rekindle it, and it takes effort and dedication to get there. Since you have young children who need both parents, I want to emphasize that couples counseling would be beneficial for both of you. Best of luck.
To read more questions and answers from the full chat, This linkJoin me next week as I talk about how to change your life with new goals and habits. Questions?.
Is green powder good for you?
Green powder sounds like it would be super healthy. It’s like eating vegetables, right?
Made from green vegetables like kale and algae, greens powders have become incredibly popular on social media. The big question is, what’s in them? Many of these formulas are proprietary, and you’re not entirely sure what’s in them. do What we do know is that they’re highly processed: Green powders are at the very least freeze-dried and powdered, and often laced with additives and sweeteners.
Ask yourself: would your greens powder taste good if mixed with water? Fresh broccoli and water is probably inedible, so what was added to the powder to make it edible for you?
Eating fresh vegetables is always more beneficial than taking greens powder. Greens powder may give you a false sense of security that your diet is balanced and you don’t need fresh fruits and vegetables. The record shows that you still need fresh fruits and vegetables. Consumer Lab At best Taking a greens powder every day only meets one-fifth of the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables for adults.
Keep reading Further advice How to buy green powder. Our columnist is Trisha S. Pasricha, a lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Here are some things that brought us joy this week.
- Best photos of the week. My favorite: a smiling dog at the polling booth.
- Swifties have set off the seismic sensors again, and these songs are causing the most uproar.
- This Bridgerton duo waiting backstage became a hot topic
- A flamingo with bad luck in love recently laid her first egg. She is 70 years old.
- Amidst all the turmoil, Caitlin Clark finds joy in her rookie year
Want to learn more about “joy” snacks? Columnist for Brain Matters Richard Sima explains. yesyou too Read this story as a manga.
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