A Bad Marriage Might Break Your Heart--Literally

Did you know a bad marriage can hurt your heart? And no. We're not talking about heartbreak.

Recent findings published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior examined data from close to 1,200 married people between the ages of 57 and 85 over a five-year-period. Participants were required to self-report their cardiovascular health, as well as marriage equality in the relationship, overall.

Findings revealed that while older couples may have weathered more years together, the negative effects of a low-quality marriage became stronger with age. For women in particular, many endured heart problems and more women tended to internalize their negative feelings.

"It may be that women are more likely to internalize their emotions and feelings about marital strain and thus are more likely to feel depressed than are men," the authors wrote, stressing that marital problems can weaken the immune system in partners.

While many findings suggest that marriage in itself has a positive effect on one's health, a troubled one certainly won't contribute to that. So what happens if you're in a bad marriage?

"It's not like you have contact with your spouse and the next day you have heart disease," said lead study author Hui Lui in a news release, referencing the study's limitation due to small sample size.

However, seeking professional counseling or other services can help partners keep their marriage strong and going.