In modern society, people are more health conscious than they have ever been. People are heavily focusing on fitness regimes, toxic-free environments, organic alternatives and nutrition labels. However, it is surprising that in spite of how health-conscious people are becoming, many do not seem to realize that their relationships’ quality can be equally as toxic to their health as toxic environments and fast food.
There are numerous forms of being in a toxic relationship including; toxic friendships, toxic co-workers, toxic partners, or toxic child/parent relationships to mention just but a few. Mental Health: 5 Signs That You Need To Walk Away From Toxic Family Relationships
According to studies bad and stressful relationships hurt more than our feelings. Therefore, they are not worth the toll they can potentially have on your health. Here are some of the ways that bad relationships affect your health.
Heightened coronary heart disease risk
A bad relationship can literally leave you heartbroken or vulnerable. According to a study that was published in the American Medical Association Journal in the year 2000, women experiencing moderate to severe strain in their marriage are 2.9 more likely going to require heart surgery, die of heart diseases or suffer from heart attacks, as opposed to women living without marital strain. These findings stayed dominant even after considering other factors like diabetes, age, bad cholesterol levels, smoking habits, and blood pressure.
In the year 2006, these findings were echoed by research conducted and published by the American Journal of Cardiology. The study confirmed that social support and marital quality play a significant role in the management and development of chronic diseases like congestive heart failure. According to its findings, patients with serious heart conditions and marital issues faced the highest risk of dying within four years.
Different Types Of Heart Disease And Managing Them
Slow disease recovery
Did you know that relationship distress and conflict are closely related to poor physical health in the perspective of disease symptom severity and recovery degree? With regard to a study conducted and published in the Cancer journal, marital strain correlates with the slow recovery of breast cancer survivors. Cancer victims with high-stress levels showed great functioning impairment when compared with cancer victims in stable relationships. Additionally, patients with marital distress had difficulties complying with the medical regimen.
Poor mental health
Research shows that committed and steady relationships are great for enhancing mental health. Therefore, it is unsurprising to find that strained and difficult relationships have the opposite effect. Criticism and hostility are negative behaviours that often take the front stage during relationship conflicts. As a result, they negatively impact your mental health. According to the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, a research article was published in the year 2003 that confirmed that single people usually have better mental health as compared to those in strained relationships.
According to a British study that was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in the year 2004, experiencing too many breakups might negatively affect your health, making it better to remain single instead. With regard to this study, having several partnership transitions like separations and divorces affects the mental health of women adversely. These women had worse mental health when compared to single women who have remained single all their lives.
Other health issues related to bad relationships include:
- Weight management
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Weak immune system
- Insomnia
Fortunately, there is good news because the case of a bad relationship has an obvious solution. For the sake of one’s health, the solution is worth considering. In case the other party has the will to repair the relationship, both of you can resolve the differences and move on. The other solution is to end the relationship altogether.
On unfaithful relationships, read Is it wrong to stay?
Relationships: 7 Signs Of An Abusive Partner
6 Ways To Get Out Of A Toxic Relationship
Signs Its Time For A Relationship Break And The Do’s And Don’ts
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