Arguments and power struggles cause heart problems...

United States
June 17, 2008 11:45pm CST
Are you getting into power struggles and arguments with your partner? If you are, you have an increased risk of having heart problems. University of Utah researchers in a study mentioned in the Orange County Register quite a few months ago, said that women are more likely to experience hardening of the arteries when they and their husbands show hostility during an argument and men experienced more hardening of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis when they are in a struggle for dominance and control. The study looked at 150 married couples between the ages of 60 and 70 years old who had no history of heart disease. They were each told to sit down in comfortable chairs and to pick a topic that they normally have disagreed about. They were sat facing each other across a table to talk and were observed by the researchers. The researchers witnessed a lot of conflicts. The researchers made quite a few referrals to marriage counselors in the course of the study. The couples got $150 for their time just for participating... Hardening of the arteries is one of the major causes of heart disease and heart attacks and as that is triggered by arguing and by struggles for dominance and control, it would be a good idea for you to find ways to relax and to negotiate with your partner in a way that is supportive and nurturing for both of you. If you need help doing this, seek marital counseling in your area if this is available to you and if it is not, talk to trusted elders about this situation and get some counseling that way.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
18 Jun 08
I think any stressful jobs could make your heart weakened and suffer the same. But, I do agree with you that confrontation in the family are the worst since there is an emotion that is included in the scenario. It is much more stressful to have that kind of disagreement and I think is much heavier than stress you get from work. I do experience that I get sick when I am stressed at home than in work.
• United States
18 Jun 08
I am hoping that you find ways to deal with the stress at work and at home and that both decrease for you. Re: conflicts in the family... If you are in a relationship with a partner, you need to remember that if either one of you wins you both lose, that the couple comes first and not either one of you as a person... that the couple's needs need to get met even before your own needs and the needs of your partner but that there should always be an effort to meet each other's needs. I am wishing you much joy in your relationships at home and at work.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
19 Jun 08
Yes so far when my wife realized this she toned down her voice and for the past days we calmly talked issues out without the need of raising our voices creating more stress in the house.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Jun 08
I am glad to hear that your home is less stressful now.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 Jun 08
that is good info but now that my other half is gone now for 3 years and I have no one to ague with (and we didnt much ) can I say this is why my artieries are block and not caused by plaque and smoking? now I can blame it on that lol
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@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 Jun 08
sounds like my son -in-law better calm down! Have to tell daughter this
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 08
It seems that diet and smoking can indeed worsen this problem... having hostility and anger towards anyone apparently for women is a bad thing. It is a bad thing for men to get into power struggles... and it need not be just with partners. If a person gets angry a lot, they will be more likely to have this problem.