National Couple’s Day

It’s National Couple’s Day, the time to celebrate the one you adore. Your partner in crime, your ride or die, and sometimes your pain in the neck. Love isn’t always easy, but when you find that special someone, it’s definitely worth it. Though you should tell your partner how you feel everyday, today is definitely the day to celebrate your significant other.

There are many health benefits of having a significant other!

Less stress: People who are married or in committed relationships have less production of stress hormones. Having the social and emotional support of a partner is a great buffer against stress.

Stronger immune system: Stress causes inflammation in the body, and that can wreak havoc on body systems. This also means that couples tend to have stronger immune systems and become sick less often.

Better healing: Whether it’s having someone there to remind you to take your medicine, or having a partner to help take your mind off the pain, research suggests married people who have undergone heart surgery are three times more likely to survive the first three months after surgery than single patients. Married patients also reported feeling more confident about their ability to handle post-surgery pain and were less worried about the surgery in general. A little emotional support can go a long way toward helping a person recover from a procedure or illness.

Healthier behaviors: When your partner leads a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a healthy diet, you are more likely to do the same. Also, having a spouse means that someone is there to watch out for you and can help hold you accountable for your health. Examples are reminding their significant other to take medications, going with them to doctors appointments, and promoting overall health.

Overall health: Marriage appears to have a positive effect on a variety of health outcomes. Mental health is the most prominent; married men have a lower risk of depression and a higher likelihood of satisfaction with life in retirement than their unmarried peers. Being married has also been linked to better cognitive function, a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, improved blood sugar levels, and better outcomes for hospitalized patients.

Longer and more fulfilling life: It’s natural for humans to want to feel needed, and like they’re part of something bigger. Many people strive to feel like they’re doing something good for someone else, and improving the world in some way. Being in a loving relationship, no matter what kind, can give a person a sense of well-being and purpose. In fact, it’s possible that having a sense of purpose can actually add years to your life. Studies show that this is especially true for men, and it is proven that on average married men live longer than single men.