Married Men Live Longer - No Joke

By Dave Tishendorf



Turns out there are several ways of looking at the notion that married men live longer than their unwed brethren.



Some of those ways are silly (at least, I think they’re silly). There’s the old (sexist) joke, for example, that married men live longer than single guys because they don’t have to eat their own cooking. And did you hear that although married men live longer than single men, married men are lot more willing to die? Finally, did you know that married men actually do not live longer than unmarried men, it just seems that way?



Jokes aside, it is true that men who have a spouse outlive single men and even men who are in an intimate relationship but haven’t tied the knot.



Entering into a committed relationship has been referred to as "settling down." That’s because marriage can be a benefit in emotional and physical ways. When a married man has a problem or is worried about something, his wife is there to offer much needed emotional support. (For the record, the assumption in this and each of the following paragraphs is that husbands also are there for their wives.)



When he becomes ill or is injured, a wife offers physical support. Often, spouses develop such a bond that there’s also an underlying friendship that makes it easier to find a soft place to fall when the world suddenly becomes unkind.



Men who are married tend to achieve more both academically and at work because of a more stable living environment. There’s a comfort in knowing that they are loved and that someone is rooting for their achievements and comforting them when things go badly at work.



Men who were once risk takers learn to think in terms of how their actions will affect their loved ones. They want to be around for the sake of their wives and, eventually, for the sake of their children.



Married men live longer because they’re happier and less stressed than single men are. When there’s a situation that needs to be handled, there’s someone they can go to and share the burden.



They also have someone who’s concerned about their health and their overall well-being. When they have a physical problem they are more likely, at their wife’s urging, to go see a doctor.



Married men live longer by being part of a family that plays together. Having regular outings – marital play dates if you will – can boost energy levels, provide relaxation and relieve stress.



The mental, emotional and physical benefits of having sex on a regular basis are widely recognized in the medical field. Men who faithfully engage with their intimate partner enjoy lowered blood pressure and reap the benefits of testosterone. (Cheating on your partner can do the opposite, as feelings of guilt and remorse can lead to stress and illness.)



Sex can lower your risk of having a heart attack; it also releases the body’s feel-good hormones and keeps the prostate healthier. In fact, a recent study has shown that regular sex increases a married man’s lifespan.



Upon reading a newspaper account of that study, my wife promised me that I am going to live forever.



Now that is funny.



Dave Tishendorf is a journalist who has written extensively about anti-aging issues. You’ll find more information about how to live longer at his website at http://www.gohealthproducts.com.