Benefits of Romance With Cardiovascular Disease

For many, the connection between romance and cardiovascular disease is a complicated topic. However, research shows a clear connection between relationships and maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

On the one hand of this topic, many studies have found that there are clear cardiac benefits of romantic relationships. The article, "Straight to the Heart: Romantic Relationships, Attachment and the Management of Cardiovascular Disease" by Pausl S. Greenman, Vanessa Tasse, and Heather Tolloch addresses how "the results of empirical research conducted over the past three decades have revealed that the experience of isolation, loneliness, conflict, and distress within the context of committed couple relationships is related to increases in pulmonary hypertension and to the development of cardiac disease leading to premature death" (Greenman, Tassé and Tulloch, 2015). Furthermore, the strength of the relationship between the partners is also a key factor in determining the effectiveness of this health benefit.

As such, it is the "perception of a romantic partner's emotional accessibility and responsiveness" that "is associated with reductions in blood pressure, the attenuation of cardiac reactivity" (Greenman, Tassé and Tulloch, 2015), which also displays "decreases in the neural perception of threat in stressful environments" (Greenman, Tassé and Tulloch, 2015). It can even be said that "couple relationships in which there are high levels of satisfaction also appear to protect against relapse and death in patients who develop heart disease" (Greenman, Tassé, and Tulloch, 2015). Therefore, love, romance, and companionship serve to protect and benefit those with cardiovascular disease, especially in comparison to those who handle the illness alone.

However, this does not mean that gaining and maintaining the social, mental, and physical benefits romance provides cardiovascular patients is easy. The social and cultural issues faced by those with CVD stigma have been discussed at length in this blog, and it extends to the area of dating and romance as well. Those who have CVD are seen as weak and, therefore, are often viewed as not a reliable partner by their significant loved ones. This is why, when illness strikes, sometimes couples break up because it takes strength. Not everyone has to survive and maintain each other in times of hardship.

Unfortunately, sometimes, the weight upon the shoulders of someone with CVD is often too heavy for them to carry alone. However, rather than seek companionship, they, more often than they should, assume that it would also be too much for their partner to handle. They may assume that their partner might see them as weak and view their relationship as suddenly, starkly shifting from one of equals to that of care-er and caretaker. The humiliation itself may be too horrible to face, much less bear. Therefore, sometimes, people with CVD, to protect themselves and their loved ones, isolate rather than reach out to the ones they love. That is the reason why many people with CVD believe this fight for love is not worth the effort and, by extension, they, themselves, are not worth fighting for, as they think that they and their hearts are too broken to care about love.

One must remember that this dire view of the world, especially their potential partners, is not inherently true. Many couples, no matter their age or illness, have found love and support despite these difficulties. Having someone to love is important, although it has never been easy. Yet, cadriovascularly speaking, the benefits ourweigh the risk. In the face of CVD, don't let fear conquer your self-worth and deprive you of happiness and any protection, health, and stability it provides.

Love exists to provide support, and in our darkest hour, it takes bravery to find strength and companionship in others. While it could break an already battered heart, the hope it provides is powerful. Therefore, don't shy away from love this Valentine's Day because it can protect both your emotional health and your physical cardiovascular system.

Reference List:

Greenman, P.S., Tassé, V. and Tulloch, H. (2015). Straight To The Heart: Romantic Relationships, Attachment, and The Management Of Cardiac Disease. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280254575_Straight_to_the_heart_Romantic_relationships_attachment_and_the_management_of_cardiac_disease.