A large new study suggests that marriage may have an unexpected side effect: People who are or have been married are less likely to develop cancer than those who have never been married.

This research has raised questions about what really keeps us healthy: Is it love, economic stability, or other social factors? Researchers looked at cancer diagnoses in more than 4 million adults in twelve US states between 2015 and 2022.

The population was divided into two groups. Those who were (or had been) married and those who had never been married. The results were surprising. Men who had never married were seventy percent more likely to develop cancer.

Women who had never married were about eighty-five percent more likely to develop the disease. This finding challenges previous thinking that men benefit more from marriage.

In this case, women seem to gain just as much, especially after the age of fifty, when decades of lifestyle start to take their toll.

The difference was more pronounced in cancers related to HPV infection, such as anal cancer in men (five times higher in unmarried men) and cervical cancer in women (three times higher in women). higher).

These diseases are largely preventable through vaccination and regular check-ups. Researchers think that spouses often exert “positive pressure” to perform medical visits and provide financial support or more stable health insurance.

For cancers such as breast or prostate, where there are organized screening programs, the difference according to marital status was smaller.

Race also played a role. Married black men had lower cancer rates than married white men, indicating that marriage may be particularly protective for certain groups.

Experts clarify that marriage itself is not a “cure-all.” It is possible that healthier and more economically stable people are more likely to marry.

Those facing poverty or chronic illness may remain single more often, increasing the risk of cancer due to these underlying factors.

Ultimately, the study points out that our bodies are affected by social structures. The need for support, access to health care and someone to encourage us to see a doctor is vital.

The public health challenge is to make these benefits – stability and care – available to everyone, regardless of whether they have chosen to say “I do” or live outside the traditional framework of marriage. /tesheshi.com/

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Source: prizrenpost