A study of more than 3,600 men and women in Framingham, Massachusetts, looked at married partners who typically held back their feelings during an argument with their spouse. Women who kept silent during marital conflict were four times more likely to die during the 10-year study period than women who always spoke their mind. (The effect was not seen in men.) Whether the woman reported having had a happy or unhappy marriage did not change her risk.
More recently, a 10-year study of more than 71,000 people showed that those who had a history of anxiety or depression before the study were about 55% more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes than those who did not have it.
This finding was more pronounced among women with anxiety or depression under the age of 50, who were nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular risk factors as any other group.
The problem is that many doctors and patients themselves are unaware of the heart risks women face. Research also shows that fewer women than men are referred to cardiac rehabilitation programs, which can help limit the psychological stress associated with heart disease, reduce the risk of associated mortality, and improve cardiovascular function to help patients to optimize their quality of life. Additionally, women are less likely to receive protective medications, such as cholesterol-lowering medications. statins or beta blockers, to protect against future cardiovascular events.
Experts emphasize that lifestyle interventions are among the most effective and accessible tools for women managing both their mental health and cardiovascular issues. This includes regular physical activity, improved diet and sleep habits, and tools to manage stress, such as meditation and deep breathing.
To learn more, read the full report.
My wife gave me permission to look outside of our sexless marriage. Bad idea?
During our live chat this week, a reader asked for advice on their sexless marriage.
It’s now been over a year since we’ve had sex, and before that it happened a few times a year. With young children at home, divorce would be terrible. She gave me permission to have sex outside of marriage. I do not know what to do.
Even if your wife has given you “permission” to have sex outside of marriage, you probably need to have a very clear conversation about what that looks like. I also want to warn you that sex is almost never “just” sex. It comes with feelings and emotions, and seeking a sexual partner outside of marriage puts you at risk of developing deeper feelings for someone other than your wife. Are you ready for this? And what about this other person? Will you be completely transparent that you’re only with them for sex – so they’d better not get attached?
I have interviewed people who, after accepting that their sexless marriage was beyond repair, began a relationship with another married person who was also in a sexless marriage. This arrangement allowed them to stay married to a partner they loved – and enjoy physical intimacy again with someone who wasn’t a “threat” because they had their own sexless relationship. ‘they wanted to maintain. Online dating sites make these kinds of arrangements possible.
Perhaps a better strategy would be for you both to go to a couples counselor to discuss what is going on. Would she consider a medical examination? There are several explanations for why marriage becomes sexless. Some couples have never had much sex. Others lost interest after having a child or after one spouse had an affair. Stress has serious consequences on couples’ sex lives, as do the daily demands of juggling work and family. Fatigue is a common reason why some people don’t want sex. But once a marriage has been sexless for a long time, it is difficult to rekindle and it takes work and commitment to do so. You have a young child in your life who needs both parents, so I just want to point out that you would both benefit from couples counseling. Good luck to you.
To read more questions and answers from the full chat, click this link. Next week we’ll talk about how to change your life with new goals and habits. Please submit your questions here.
Are green powders good for you?
Green powders seem really healthy. It’s the same as eating vegetables, right?
Greens powders, made from greens like kale and seaweed, are extremely popular on social media. The big question is the ingredients. Many of these formulas are proprietary, meaning we don’t know exactly what’s in them. What we TO DO What I do know is that they are heavily processed: greens powders are at least freeze-dried, powdered, and often mixed with additives and sweeteners.
Ask yourself: does your greens powder taste good mixed with water? You probably couldn’t handle fresh broccoli and water. So, what was added to this powder to make it tolerable?
Eating fresh vegetables will always be more beneficial than taking green vegetable powders. And green vegetable powders can give you a false sense of security that your diet is balanced and doesn’t require fresh fruits and vegetables. For the record, this is still the case: a Consumer Lab analysis revealed that at best only one-fifth of an adult’s recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables could be met with a daily serving of green vegetable powders.
Continue reading for more tips on how to buy green powders. Our columnist is Trisha S. Pasricha, an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Here are some things that brought us joy this week.
- The best photos of the week. My favorite: A smiling dog in a voting booth.
- The Swifties have triggered earthquake sensors again. These are the songs that made the most noise.
- After waiting in the wings, this “Bridgerton” duo is making waves
- A pink flamingo “unlucky in love” recently laid its first egg. She is 70 years old.
- Even as chaos swirls, Caitlin Clark finds joy in her first year
Want to know more about “joy” snacks? Our Brain Matters columnist Richard Sima explains. Yesyou can also read this story like a comic strip.
Please let us know how we are doing. Send me an email to wellness@washpost.com. You can also find us on TikTok.