One of your best assets in the fight against heart disease is the strength of a patient's marriage.
That's the conclusion of a recent Canadian Journal of Cardiology review of 12 trial programs. The review found that strong marriages and partnerships can improve heart health for those with heart disease. In fact, the study suggests, partners should be included in cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Writing in a press release for EurekAlert, Heather E. Tullock said that 77 percent of the trials reviewed showed improvements in health behavior. Spouses were seen as keys to recovery since they tended to encourage heart healthy meals, regular physical activity, and proper use of medications.
The trial programs reviewed in the study were couples-based programs that involved both patient and spouse in recovery and lifestyle changes.