Get married, be healthy and happy. The singles, especially men, have greater risk for stroke. That was the conclusion of a study that was involving more than 10,000 men.
After putting aside other factors of stroke, 64 percent of single men in the 1960s had risk for a stroke three decades (30 years) later than their counterparts who were married. However, the risks of stroke in men who get married are also still high, especially the marriage was unhappy.
The results presented at the American Stroke Association conference in 2010 were consistent with the literature that says that the support of the spouse can increase a person’s health status.
“People who are married are usually more concerned about health. They are more likely to see a doctor when sick, and tend to have a healthy diet,” said Daniel Lackland, a professor of neuroscience from Epidemiologic and Medical University of South Caroline, USA.
The study of stroke and marital status was conducted by scientists in Israel, involving 10 059 men who participated in the Israeli ischemic Heart Disease Study in 1963. By using records of death, researchers looking for a track record of the health of the respondents until 1997.
Approximately 8.4 percent of the unmarried in 1963, both still-single, divorced, and widower since his wife died, apparently died of a stroke after 34 year. The result is slightly higher than married people, 7.1 percent.
The analysis result also shows socioeconomic factors and other risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, and smoking. Presence or absence of diabetes and heart disease at the beginning of the study also calculated.
Although this study involved only men respondents, the researchers said that the risk is not much different than the female. “Our partner is usually more concerned with the symptoms or signs of disease that we suffer so much faster treatment. As a result, the risk of complications or fatal strokes would be reduced,” explained Lackland.