Newlyweds oath that they would be together forever, in sickness and in health, have never bought so literal meaning. The researchers found that people who live together for a long time, become as like as two peas, and even take over the disease to each other.
What do you spend the best years?
Scientists say that the longer we live together with a partner, the biologically stronger than me. We become like everything. And this can not be avoided.
"Aging - is that couples are going through together. You look at the world together and take common decisions, "- says Megan Shannon (Shannon Meja), a researcher from the University of Michigan.
Over time, you become interconnected, not only emotionally, but also physically. If you end up proposals for each other, but now synchronize not your thoughts, and the muscles and cells.
My second half
Shannon Magee studied couples who live together at least 20 years, and a couple whose relationship has lasted over 50 years. It turned out that people who have lived side by side for decades, have significant similarities in kidney function, cholesterol levels, and the work of some muscles. When the analysis is based on data on the level of income, work and family relationships.
It is clear that we choose a mate based on certain attributes, and partner anyway originally like us. But this does not explain why the similarity between the partners is much stronger in couples living together for several decades.
Shannon Magee believes that these common features - that creates a pair together throughout their life together. Now the researcher is studying how the overall experience of the partners affects the appearance of the same health problems.
Similar work previously conducted Hoppmann Christian (Christiane Hoppmann), Associate Professor, University of British Columbia, who found that people long living togetherThey are experiencing the same difficulty in performing daily tasks. For example, go shopping, cook a complete meal, take the medicines on time is equally difficult (or easy) for both partners. The same was true of depression - the wife suffered from depression and coping with it too along.
Perhaps the key to understanding this problem is physical activity. For example, if a partner with depression refuse to leave the house, the other feels obligated to also sit in four walls. The longer this goes on, the more vulnerable to a variety of problems will become vapor. This includes both degradation depressionAnd the risk of diseases such as diabetes.
But we have not only the bad news. There are also good.
We do everything together
Chopyk William (William Chopik), assistant professor of psychology at Michigan State University, found evidence of positive action optimism. He studied the good humor and its impact on the health and activity. To test how optimistic people view the world, the researcher asked them to answer, agree or disagree with the statement they "Even in the most troubled times, I hope for the best."
It turned out that in the event that one partner supports the overall positive attitude, his companion or life partner will feel better. Such as diabetes or arthritis made themselves felt much more rare diseases and symptoms manifested much less bright.
"The fact that your spouse keeps positive mood, good for you" - says William Chopyk.
Why is it not yet entirely clear. Some researchers believe that optimists are more prone to a healthy lifestyle and can have a positive impact on its partners.
Although scientists have not yet found the answer, it is clear how this discovery can affect health. People who are in long-term relationships do not suffer from chronic diseases by themselves. When one partner appears a health problem, it may be another cause. And that means - and part of the solution.