14 DAY TRIAL // There is little denying that fights are nasty. In fact, some people dislike them so much that they would bend over backwards to avoid them, especially when the “enemy” is their spouse.
Turns out these people are unknowingly helping both themselves and their loved ones live longer.
Researchers who have spent the past two decades monitoring the health records of 1,700 married couples (yes, I know... they must have had a lot of time to spare) found that those who almost never argued were healthier than those who bickered as often as they had the chance.
“This study also shows happy marriages have a preventative component that keeps you in good health over the years. The implication is that marital conflict is a risk factor for poor health.”
“Couples that fight or argue frequently should get professional help to reduce their conflict because it is affecting their health,” researcher Rick Miller details on this and his colleagues' findings.
The scientists suspect regular fights lower life expectancy because they foster “bad” behaviors like smoking and drinking.