It seems that sharing your heart with someone offers real physical benefits. According to a recent study from Brigham Young University, happily married people have lower blood pressure than single people or unhappily married couples.

In the study, 204 married and 99 single adults wore portable blood pressure monitors that recorded blood pressure levels throughout an entire day and night. Men and women in happy marriages scored four points lower on 24-hour blood pressure than single adults did.
 

The participants compiled lists of friends in their social network and answered questions about the quality of those relationships. Married participants also completed questionnaires on the quality of their spousal relationships.

Having a supportive social network did not translate into improved blood pressure for any participants. And—no surprise here—unhappily married adults had higher blood pressure than both the happily married and single adults.

There seem to be some unique health benefits from marriage, say the researchers. In particular, spouses can promote healthy habits such as encouraging each other to see a doctor and eat healthier foods, and also provide a source of emotional support. So if your marriage is happy, you may find yourself enjoying less time in sickness and more in health.