Memory researcher Fabricio Ballarini says that couples often rely on each others brains to store and recall memories. When a partner dies or leaves, a part of the other halfs memory seems to disappear as well. This unique connection between long-term partners not only impacts their memories and habits but also has physical effects. A recent study published in the American Heart Associations journal analyzed data from over 30,000 couples worldwide and found that 20%-50% of them shared hypertension.
Among heterosexual couples aged 50 to 75, hypertension affected 37.9% in the United States, 47.1% in England, 20.8% in China, and 19.8% in India. In countries where hypertension is less common, the womans health was more affected. Compared to women married to men with normal blood pressure, American and English women living with a hypertensive man had a higher likelihood of having hypertension themselves (9% and 19%, respectively). Similarly, Chinese women had a 26% higher likelihood. The percentages were comparable for husbands in the countries studied.
The authors conclude that coordinated intervention for couples can effectively combat hypertension. These interventions include detection tests and implementing lifestyle changes like increased physical activity, stress reduction and dietary changes. Both individuals in a relationship should adopt these changes together to facilitate introduction and maintenance.
Couples often share more than just hypertension. A study conducted by Tohoku University (Japan) and Groningen University (Netherlands) revealed that many couples have similar blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels and even shared diseases like diabetes. The BMJ medical journal published another study that found that companions of individuals with certain non-communicable diseases had a higher risk of developing them. For conditions like asthma, depression and gastric ulcers, the risk increased by at least 70%.
Couples often share habits like exercising, and consuming alcohol and tobacco. They also tend to have similar body measurements. People typically choose partners who are similar in terms of education, economic status, social environment and even genetics. A 2013 study published in PNAS found that couples have greater genetic similarity compared to randomly chosen individuals, although this similarity is much smaller than factors like educational level. Although the exact mechanisms behind partner selection are not fully understood, it appears that we are attracted to those who resemble us. This could partly explain why couples who live together for a long time often share similar health conditions.
Over time, physical synchronization is accompanied by a psychological rhythm that reinforces its impact on the partners health. According to a study conducted by Shannon Meja, a specialist in couples health at the University of Illinois, beliefs about aging are contagious and can affect the partners health. If you stop doing sports because you think youre too old, that negative perception can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Similarly, the belief that aging is inevitable and uncontrollable can hinder taking action. Understanding the habits, rituals and beliefs of couples developed over years of living together can help gerontologists support successful aging, said Meja.
Gonzalo Grandes, head of the Primary Care Research Unit of Bizkaia (Spain), says, The concept of family medicine stems from recognizing the similarities among couples and their children. Despite this, we still tend to rely on individualized medicine in practice, with separate clinical histories that fail to provide valuable information for treatment. For Grandes, a comprehensive family perspective is valuable in addressing issues like childhood obesity. It involves focusing on nutrition and physical activity, which are responsibilities of the parents or other adults caring for the children. In theory, it is widely accepted that structuring socio-health interventions at both the family and community levels is crucial for promoting health. However, implementing this approach can be challenging due to its complexity.
According to Isabel Egocheaga of the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG), while hospitals dont typically schedule appointments for couples, its a common practice in family medicine. Its more common in older couples, rather than younger ones, she said. Often, we conduct check-ups simultaneously, and some couples both take Sintrom [an anticoagulant] and do all the necessary follow-up tasks together. Like the authors of the article published by the American Heart Association, Egocheaga believes couples can better control hypertension by doing activities together, like reducing salt intake and exercising.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAS USA Edition
See original here:
Couples often share diseases, even if they are not contagious - EL PAS USA
- Hypertension: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology - Medscape Reference - April 10th, 2018 [April 10th, 2018]
- High blood pressure (hypertension) - Symptoms and causes ... - May 18th, 2018 [May 18th, 2018]
- 10 Causes of Hypertension - A Diet High In Salt Content - June 21st, 2018 [June 21st, 2018]
- Homeopathy Hypertension Remedies | High Blood Pressure ... - July 5th, 2018 [July 5th, 2018]
- European Society of Hypertension - July 7th, 2018 [July 7th, 2018]
- List of High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Medications (259 ... - July 26th, 2018 [July 26th, 2018]
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Charts, Symptoms, Diet ... - September 2nd, 2018 [September 2nd, 2018]
- Vitamin D and hypertension - September 8th, 2018 [September 8th, 2018]
- 2014 Guideline for Management of High Blood Pressure - September 29th, 2018 [September 29th, 2018]
- Essential hypertension - Wikipedia - September 30th, 2018 [September 30th, 2018]
- Hypertension Treatment & Drugs | Hypertension Causes ... - September 30th, 2018 [September 30th, 2018]
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) - October 13th, 2018 [October 13th, 2018]
- Hypotension - Wikipedia - October 30th, 2018 [October 30th, 2018]
- Hypertension | pathology | Britannica.com - October 30th, 2018 [October 30th, 2018]
- Hypertension | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine - November 10th, 2018 [November 10th, 2018]
- 2014 Guideline for Management of High Blood Pressure - JAMA - November 18th, 2018 [November 18th, 2018]
- Pharmacologic Treatment of Hypertension in Adults | Annals ... - November 18th, 2018 [November 18th, 2018]
- 10 Causes of Hypertension - High In Salt Consumption - November 29th, 2018 [November 29th, 2018]
- High blood pressure (hypertension) - Diagnosis and treatment ... - November 29th, 2018 [November 29th, 2018]
- High Blood Pressure Symptoms - Hypertension Symptoms - December 9th, 2018 [December 9th, 2018]
- Hypertension - Medscape Reference - December 21st, 2018 [December 21st, 2018]
- Hypertension - Lab Tests Online - December 21st, 2018 [December 21st, 2018]
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Symptoms ... - OnHealth - December 21st, 2018 [December 21st, 2018]
- High Blood Pressure | Hypertension | MedlinePlus - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- Hypertension - Wikipedia - December 27th, 2018 [December 27th, 2018]
- Hypertension: Causes and Risk Factors - verywellhealth.com - January 1st, 2019 [January 1st, 2019]
- Hypertension - Genetics Home Reference - NIH - January 20th, 2019 [January 20th, 2019]
- Hypertension: Nursing Care Management and Study Guide - April 7th, 2019 [April 7th, 2019]
- High blood pressure (hypertension) Disease Reference Guide ... - April 7th, 2019 [April 7th, 2019]
- Pulmonary hypertension - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic - September 14th, 2019 [September 14th, 2019]
- Incident Hypertension Associated With Continuous NSAID Use in Ankylosing Spondylitis - Rheumatology Advisor - October 12th, 2019 [October 12th, 2019]
- The innovative new ways scientists are tackling high blood pressure - Noted - October 12th, 2019 [October 12th, 2019]
- If You Have High Blood Pressure, You May Be at Higher Risk for This Cancer - msnNOW - October 12th, 2019 [October 12th, 2019]
- MODERATO II Study: Cardiac Neuromodulation Significantly Reduces Systolic Blood Pressure - Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology - October 12th, 2019 [October 12th, 2019]
- Kidney-heart connection is focus of upcoming HealthyLife seminar - Times Union - October 12th, 2019 [October 12th, 2019]
- High blood pressure: Six foods proven to lower your reading - Express - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Sepetaprost Effective and Safe in Glaucoma, Ocular Hypertension - Monthly Prescribing Reference - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- India, Stressed: More than Half of Commuters in Metro Cities Likely to Commit Road Rage - News18 - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- University College London Awarded 1M to Advance Heart, PH Research Using Computational Biology - Pulmonary Hypertension News - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- One in 10 children on the verge of heart attack risk - The New Daily - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- Healthy living: Salt and hypertension - Forbes India - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- The global blood pressure (BP) monitoring devices market size is expected to reach USD 2.47 billion by 2026 - GlobeNewswire - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- Vitamin D Deficiency And Hypertension: Is There A Relation Between Low Levels Of Vitamin D And High Blood Pressure? - NDTV News - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- Hypertension in Indians - Forbes India - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- Health: Worrying rise of hypertension in Indians - Forbes India - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- More than 1100 health care organizations earn BP-control honor - American Medical Association - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- Medication Adherence In Patients With Arterial Hypertension: The Relat | PPA - Dove Medical Press - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- High levels of stress increase hypertension risk in black individuals - Healio - October 17th, 2019 [October 17th, 2019]
- Dapagliflozin Receives FDA Approval for Reducing Heart Failure Hospitalization Risk - Endocrinology Advisor - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- Death of Clay County inmate prompts change in housing for inmates with specific medical needs - FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- New OPSUMIT (macitentan) Data Show Initial Combination Therapy with Tadalafil Improved Hemodynamic Clinical and Functional Parameters in Patients with... - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- High Blood Pressure: Why salt is considered a harbinger of hypertension? - PINKVILLA - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- Chronic Stress in African-Americans Linked to Hypertension - TCTMD - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- Why all the fuss around hypertension? - Firstpost - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- Study explores why Caribbean adults have higher hypertension rates - Yale News - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- Hypertension in adults: summary of updated NICE guidance - The BMJ - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- Diabetes, blood pressure and cancer cases are rising rapidly in India - Times of India - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- Is there a link between breastfeeding and diabetes - Medical News Bulletin - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- High Blood Pressure: Lower hypertension by eating less of these food groups - PINKVILLA - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- Chronic high blood pressure in pregnant women on the rise - MahoningMatters.com - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- Unhealthy Lifestyle and Indian Ethnicity Tied to Hypertension - Forbes India - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- Cardio Round-up: Walkability and CVD; Pollution and Stroke; and More - DocWire News - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- Hypertension Tied to Over One-Third of Population-Attributable CVD Risk in U.S. Black Adults - DocWire News - November 2nd, 2019 [November 2nd, 2019]
- This Is What Makes Oats Idli An Ideal Breakfast For A High Blood Pressure Diet - NDTV Food - November 11th, 2019 [November 11th, 2019]
- Global Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Therapeutics Market 2019-2023 | Evolving Opportunities with AbbVie Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. |... - November 11th, 2019 [November 11th, 2019]
- Severe Hypertension Common in aHUS Patients and Soliris Effective at Treating Them, Study Finds - aHUS News - November 11th, 2019 [November 11th, 2019]
- Overhydration Is a Risk Factor for Post-Dialysis Hypertension - Renal and Urology News - November 11th, 2019 [November 11th, 2019]
- In AS, Hypertension Risk Linked to Continuous NSAID Use, Study Says - Ankylosing Spondylitis News - November 11th, 2019 [November 11th, 2019]
- Physicians, Patient Discuss Intentional Nonadherence in Hypertension Therapy - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - November 11th, 2019 [November 11th, 2019]
- More than 50,000 suffer from diabetes, nearly a lakh from hypertension - The Indian Express - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- Cause of John Witherspoons untimely death revealed - TheGrio - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- This Hyderabad-based Start-up is Helping Corporates Improve the Health of their Employees - Entrepreneur - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- ER visits jumped after valsartan blood pressure medication recall, study says - CBC.ca - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- The ALK-1/SMAD/ATOH8 axis attenuates hypoxic responses and protects against the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension - Science - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- Health screenings given to raise awareness at West Philly barbershop - The Philadelphia Tribune - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- Blood pressure monitoring must be a part of a diabetic's routine - Gulf News - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- Early Warning Signs of CKD Going Unnoticed in Veterans, Especially Those With Hypertension - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- The Epidemic of Hypertension and Vulnerability of Indians - Forbes India - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- Knowing the facts: Hypertension vis-a-vis Lifestyle - Forbes India - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]
- Heart hormones that affect development of diabetes, hypertension differ in African Americans and whites - UAB News - November 14th, 2019 [November 14th, 2019]