A recent international study has discovered an intriguing connection between the blood pressure levels of married couples.
The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that if one spouse’s blood pressure rises over time, their partner’s blood pressure may follow suit.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Chihua Li, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan, expressed surprise at the findings.
It revealed that among many older couples in the United States, England, China, and India, both husband and wife often experienced high blood pressure.
For instance, in the United States, over 35% of couples aged 50 or older had high blood pressure simultaneously. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common health concern, especially among older adults, and it can lead to various health complications.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), nearly 47% of adult Americans had high blood pressure in 2020, contributing to 120,000 deaths that year.
The study examined data from nearly 34,000 heterosexual couples from around the world, including the United States, England, China, and India. Data collection occurred between 2015 and 2019, depending on the country.
High blood pressure was defined as systolic blood pressure (the upper number in a reading) higher than 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) greater than 90 mm Hg, as measured by healthcare professionals.
The study’s co-lead author, Jithin Sam Varghese, explained that the team aimed to investigate whether married couples, who often share similar interests, living environments, lifestyle habits, and health outcomes, might also share high blood pressure.
The research seemed to support this idea. The prevalence of both spouses having high blood pressure was approximately 47% in England, 38% in the United States, 21% in China, and 20% in India.
Interestingly, these results remained consistent regardless of a couple’s income, age, education, or the duration of their marriage.
Dr. Varghese, an assistant research professor at the Emory Global Diabetes Research Center in Atlanta, emphasized that this study was the first to examine the occurrence of high blood pressure within couples from both high- and middle-income countries.
Fortunately, there are steps that individuals and couples can take to prevent or manage high blood pressure.
According to Bethany Barone Gibbs, chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the School of Public Health at West Virginia University, making lifestyle changes such as becoming more physically active, reducing stress, and adopting a healthier diet can all help lower blood pressure.
However, she noted that these changes can be challenging to achieve and sustain if a spouse or partner is not making similar changes, underscoring the importance of addressing blood pressure as a family unit.
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the interconnectedness of blood pressure levels within married couples.
While the reasons behind this phenomenon require further investigation, it underscores the significance of promoting a healthy lifestyle and blood pressure management not only for individuals but also within the context of relationships and families.
The research findings can be found in Journal of the American Heart Association.
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