When you got married, you knew that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with your best friend. You knew this was the right decision for your heart, but did you know it was also the best decision you could have made for your physical and mental health?
As couples, we thrive on connection, communication, and love. Not only do these things deepen our marriage and make our relationships more rewarding to be in, but they also lead to amazing health benefits.
Is your relationship building you up, or could it use a refining?
We are looking at 5 unexpected health benefits of love and marriage and the best marriage tips for getting the most out of your relationship.
Health Benefits of Love and Marriage
1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Stress has many negative side effects such as low energy, insomnia, loss of sexual desire, difficulty relaxing, poor mental health, depression, panic disorder, irritability, and the list goes on.
The good news is that studies show that the oxytocin released during intimate acts such as holding hands or making love lowers stress. This is backed up by a study by Carnegie Mellon University. They found that couples who reported being in happy marriages carry less of the stress hormone cortisol than those who are single or divorced.
Married couples experience a significant decline in stress and greater happiness when spending time together. This is true whether couples are out on an exciting date night or are doing the dishes together.
2. Encourages Better Self-Care
When you know that you are loved and treasured by your partner, it encourages you to take better care of yourself. Not only do those in romantic relationships try to make time for self-love, but also they are more likely to stick with their diet and exercise routines.
A caring partner will also encourage you to go to the doctor. Studies show that people who are in romantic relationships are more likely to detect melanoma earlier than those who are single because their partners are more likely to spot suspicious markings on the body. The same goes for serious diseases such as Leukemia or Cushing’s disease.
3. Positive Mental Health
As stated, oxytocin has many special properties. One is that it is responsible for increasing trust between partners. This allows you to relax and de-stress.
Love also reassures you that you have a solid support system for dealing with any mental health issues you are going through.
No doubt, it makes you happy when your spouse respects you and treats you well. When you are feeling ooey-gooey-romantic about your spouse, your body releases a feel-good chemical called dopamine – often associated with the reward center of the brain.
These positive feelings intensify your mood and make you feel loved and appreciated.
4. Better Physical Health
Being in love is amazing for your health. Research finds that oxytocin and vasopressin promote social bonding and wound healing. During the study, couples were given small blister wounds to monitor the healing process.
The results revealed that those with higher levels of oxytocin had more positive communication behaviors and healed quicker than those with lower oxytocin quartiles.
Research shows that marriage may actually make you live longer. A 2011 study by the University of Rochester is quoted as saying, “Happily wedded people who undergo coronary bypass surgery are more than three times as likely to be alive 15 years later, as their unmarried counterparts.”
5. Love is a Natural Pain Reducer
When you are in love, you experience less pain than those who are single. In fact, one CDC report which monitored 127,000 adults found that married partners were less likely to experience (or complain about) back pain and headaches.
Another fascinating study found that women who were under the threat of electric shock had a lower stress response when they were holding their husband’s hands.
How to Have a Beneficial Relationship
A good relationship should make you feel loved, respected, and safe. But it takes work to create a healthy relationship that is mutually beneficial.
Here are 3 simple marriage tips you can follow to enhance your relationship and reap the rewards.
Have a Regular Date Night
Research shows that treating your spouse like your best friend is one of the biggest factors in a lasting marriage. You can continue to grow your marital friendship and strengthen your relationship by making date night a priority in your life.
Studies show that date nights improve relationship quality. Couples, who regularly spend time together, often communicate more. They also report having higher levels of passionate love, better sex lives, and are less likely to get divorced.
Communicate Daily
If you want to build a strong, lasting relationship, you must be able to communicate with your spouse. This is essential to getting to know one another better and developing empathy.
Communication also strengthens teamwork. It helps couples work together to solve problems, attacking the issue at hand instead of lashing out at one another.
When you communicate about problems you are having in the relationship you prevent misunderstandings from occurring. It also prevents small issues from snowballing into giant resentments.
Take an Online Marriage Class
One of the biggest marriage tips for building a strong relationship is to take an online marriage class.
Doing a class online means that you can go through your lessons in the comfort of your own home – in your pajamas if desired!
Your relationship doesn’t have to be troubled for you to benefit from a marriage course. All you need is the desire to get to know your partner on a deeper level and boost teamwork.
You will learn about the fundamentals of a great relationship, build stronger intimacy, and navigate the many challenges couple’s face such as financial difficulties.
Being in love is an amazing feeling that can benefit not only your physical health but also your mental wellness. It can reduce stress, improve your body, encourage positive mental health, and make you happier.
By following our marriage tips and communicating regularly, you can build a strong and happy relationship.
About the Author
Rachael Pace is a noted writer currently associated with Marriage.com. She provides inspiration, support, and empowerment in the form of her motivational articles and essays. Rachael enjoys studying about today’s evolving forms of loving partnerships and is passionate about writing on all types of romantic connections. She believes that everyone should make room for love in their lives and encourages couples to work on overcoming their challenges together.
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