Love has many physical benefits, but it would seem that men
and women who are in a relationship get many mental health benefits too. It was
found that people who had been in a relationship for a few years were less
likely to be depressed and attempt suicide. Other studies have found similar
findings, stating that married people report lower levels of depression and
distress. Apparently, married men are also half as likely to commit suicide as
single men, and one third as likely as divorced men are.
The mortality rates for single males aged between 30 and 59
are two and half times higher than their non-single counterparts! Single women
also face a 23 percent higher mortality rate than those who are married.
Researchers suggest that this difference in longevity is because most single
people have poorer health benefits, a lower income and are socially isolated.
Being supported and connected to others is an essential part of keeping
healthy.
It’s no coincidence that love is often depicted using a
heart shape. A recent study by researchers at the University of Rochester in
New York found that those in a happy relationship are three times more likely
to survive heart surgery. The researchers reported that a good marriage could
be as beneficial to the heart as quitting smoking, staying at a healthy weight
and reducing high blood pressure. Similar findings were found by those at the
University of North Carolina and a study in Human Communication Research. They
both found that being in love and expressing your emotions had a positive
impact on cholesterol.
Go out, get somebody to love. We as human beings are made to
love!
