- Explain to interested patients that good social relationships have been linked to better cardiovascular health, and this study suggests that negative relationships can have the opposite effect.
- Inform patients that the risk of coronary events with increasing conflict in close personal relationships was modest.
LONDON, Oct. 8 -- Stormy relationships may increase long term wear and tear on the heart physically as well as emotionally, leading to a modestly increased risk of coronary events.
Men and women who reported the most conflict in their closest personal relationship were 34% more likely to have a heart attack or angina over the subsequent 12 years than those with the least amount of conflict, according to a large cohort study in the Oct. 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
However, emotionally supportive relationships were not linked to coronary events for good or ill, reported Roberto De Vogli, Ph.D., M.P.H., of University College London, and colleagues.
"The possibility that negative close relationships are more powerful predictors of health than other aspects of social support is consistent with previous research findings indicating that individuals tend to mentally replay negative encounters more than they replay positive ones," the researchers wrote.
Stressful aspects of intimate relationships may also be more important to health because they activate stronger emotions--worry and anxiety-with consequently stronger physiological effects, they said.
