Broken Heart Syndrome | 07/29/2009 8:10 am

Divorce Is Bad for Your Heart in More Ways Than One

Study shows married couples are more heart-healthy than singles, especially divorced adults; second marriages don’t heal the damage.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

It turns out, not only are being happy in love and marriage good for the soul, they’re also good for the heart.

A new study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that not only are married couples over 50 generally healthier and less depressed than those who stay single, but losing a spouse could seriously hurt your health. Those adults who are divorced or widowed fare worse when it comes to chronic health conditions than those who never wed. And even though some may remarry, a second — or third — chance at marital bliss doesn’t necessarily eliminate the physical and mental damage done. CNN notes that the researchers found that the divorced or widowed have 20 percent more chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer, and 23 percent more problems climbing stairs or walking a block — than their married counterparts.

In essence, a broken heart is a real medical condition. In 2005, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that the unexpected death of a loved one or other emotional stress can even cause what seems like a heart attack, otherwise known as stress cardiomyopathy, or "broken heart" syndrome. Researchers at The Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island this year found that two thirds of the 70 patients with the syndrome studied — almost all post-menopausal women — had experienced a very stressful physical or emotional event just before arriving at the hospital with heart-attack-like symptoms.

"Think of health as money in the bank," said researcher Linda J. Waite, a professor of sociology at the University of Chicago who helped with the study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, according to Reuters Health. "Think of a marriage as a mechanism for ‘saving’ or adding to health. Think of divorce as a period of very high expenditures."

A question to our wOw audience: How have you gotten over a broken heart?

14 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

They should really do a study comparing the health of people in miserable marriages to people who have divorced to get a true picture of what is effecting people’s health.

By DeBúrca obj on 07/29/2009 8:40 am

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Exactly, DeBurca — I was in a bad marriage……..the stress of that marriage almost killed me.

By MK P on 07/29/2009 2:21 pm

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I have always believe that break-ups, loss of a partner is just as physical as it is emotional. The pain you feel emotionally translates into an actual physical reaction. So part of the study does make sense. However they have to take into consideration the level of happiness within the marriage. There are two adages I live by "I can do bad all by myself" and "I don’t need a man to define me"

There are countless couples who are together out of a sense of "comfort" rather than true love and intimacy. People who have settled. "He may not be what I want him to be, but at least I have someone" and "She’s not the woman I used to love, but at least I know what I’m getting" I deal with divorce couples everyday and see how they waste valuable years of their lives being caught up in unfulfilled marriages. And conversely seeing the joy once they are out of those marraiges.

By Belinda Joy on 07/29/2009 9:09 am

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I’m not sure I get this study fully. I have to agree with Belinda, "I deal with divorce couples everyday and see how they waste valuable years of their lives being caught up in unfulfilled marriages. And conversely seeing the joy once they are out of those marriages.".

There was a study I read years ago that make sense to me. It said that married men lived long then single men and single women lived longer than married women. Why? Married men are told by the wife to go to the doctor for check up. They see the doctor more then single men who postpone going to the doctor for as long as possible. Women on the other hand often take care of everyone else first. So a single women will go to the doctor first, quicker and sooner than a marriage women. This study made sense to me because there was some logic to it.

So I wonder what the logic is with this study. We already know that our bodies are excellent healer over time. There are numbers of studies showing how our bodies heal perfectly well over time. The only down fall is age. As we get older we just don’t heal like we did when we were in our 20’s.

By Grande Camper on 07/29/2009 11:03 am

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Although many people do marry and stay with their first loves, most people have experienced a broken heart. Rejection or emotional detachment does not make one feel cozy inside, so it’s a given it will affect a person emotionally and possibly physically. But life goes on. There are many people in second and third marriages who are very happy and have no trouble climbing stairs.

By Maggie W on 07/29/2009 9:27 am

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And….Maggie……having gone through divorce, I can say for a fact — by the time a marriage breaks up, your heart has been slowly anesthetized. =) The loneliest I have ever been in my life was when I was in my first marriage.

By MK P on 07/29/2009 2:23 pm

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DeBurca I agree I would like to see those stats. My daughter is going thru a divorce right now. It’s her choice and there was no cheating she just woke uo and after 12 years and two kids realized that she was tired of staying in a loveless marriage where she earns all the money, takes care of the kids, cooks, cleans, pays the bills while her soon to be ex just walks thru life care free and adds nothing to the marriage except maybe chauffer once in a while. My advice to her was stop wasting your life and move on. The kids will adjust since it’s not a bitter divorce and maybe at 39 she can find some happiness.

By Barbara B on 07/29/2009 9:46 am

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I am not sure why a study needed to be done b/c anyone who has been broken up with or had their heart broken knows it hurts and its not just an emotional pain its very physical…in my 20’s when I was dating this guy who sure wasnt the best guy in the world, I stressed a lot about him and what he was doing and where he was going and lost 20 lbs in 1 month - not healthy at all.

I have a friend who is in her marriage b/c he is comfortable and she is miserable. She likes having he family but there are no feelings at all for her hubby. I feel so lucky to have what I do and Thank GOD for it each day.

I agree that you dont need a man to survive but once you find the right one it makes life feel so much more fulfilled.

By C Hardy on 07/29/2009 9:54 am

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When my mentally ill husband was still living with my two girls and me, I was seriously sick two or three times a year. Sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough. You name it. Sometimes for several months at a time. It was horrible.

Since he left us almost two years ago, despite the sheer fear of how I am going to possibly pay the bills on a very constant basis, I have stopped being sick.

My heart was thoroughly broken far before my husband moved out. I’ve only been recovering since. Our girls, his parents, and I spent a long time pushing him out of a town he hated, a house he disliked, a marriage he hated but wasn’t willing to leave, etc. etc. Mental illness is hard to live with, and harder to have. I do feel sorry for him, but I’ll be so relieved when the divorce is final.

Anyway, I’d love to be in love again. No great expectations, but just because he was a bad rat, is no reason not to expect better.

Cheers,

Constance in the Sierra Foothills

By Constance Plank on 07/30/2009 12:35 am

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hmmm… "how have I got over a broken heart"? That’s a cool question. Honestly i think i didn’t get completely over my broken heart until i met my husband. I had a lot of people leave when i was young. my mom was a traveler. i always felt abandoned. my dad was gone all of my life. and as a young single woman i met and left or was left several men. a couple of whom broke my heart. I think the pain and emptiness was always there really. Even though i had a full life with good friendships. I don’t think i mended until i fell in love and was loved back. not all the way. but that’s a broken heart from abandonment. I don’t know how i would handle one from a death.

By Chrome Toe on 07/30/2009 8:58 am

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wow… i should really proof read my spelling and typos before i send. sorry.

By Chrome Toe on 07/30/2009 8:59 am

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You can’t access the actual study just yet without a subscription, but here’s a better summary:

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56Q4OI20090727

The articles states that:

"A shortcoming of the study, the researchers note, is that it lacked information on marital quality. Past studies have found that people who remain in an unhappy marriage may have increased risks of health problems like high blood pressure, depression and heart disease."

Moral of the story: do whatever it takes to be happy and reduce stress, whether you’re married or not.

By Andrea Brandon on 08/01/2009 4:26 pm

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Where do they get these studies? I don’t believe this at all! I’m on my second marriage, happy,healthy, and in love. Why would anyone stay in a marriage that’s unhealthy? In my twenties I had 2 children and my husband decided to start dating. I had no help, and was never happier in my life! Also no money. We made it and I believe my children are healthier for it. When I met my husband that all changed and my life is like a dream come true.

Although when I was going out on a 1st date (new years) with him while trying to find the perfect dress, my 6 year old yelled "hey mom see this dress? It would make you look cheap!" Gotta love em! He’s 22 now.

Believe in yourself, do the next right thing and get out of the way!

By Bobbie R. on 08/13/2009 10:42 pm

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Was this study done by a guy that is trying to convince his wife not to leave him LOL?! Well, I’m not convinced you should "stay" in a marriage if it isnt enjoyable - good bad and ugly- life is too short for too many bad’s and uglies.

With all the "other" studies, showing more ppl are living into their 90’s and 100’s - I’d say the majority of them are not in first marriages - nor are they married -given the divorce statistic’s. Go to a senior center or bowling and other activity - most women are single - divorced and widowed for year’s and still mentaly and physically healthy.

By Paula L on 08/14/2009 12:20 pm