Marital bust-ups make aches and pains worse

Arguing with your spouse may worsen the symptoms of chronic diseases, say u.S. researchers.

They studied two groups of older people — one group had type 2 diabetes, the other had arthritis of the knee — and asked them to keep a diary for more than three weeks, recording their symptoms, mood and how they were interacting with their partners. On days of marital tension, patients in both groups recorded more pain and more severe symptoms.

The researchers, writing in the journal Annals of Behavioural Medicine, believe that the results mean emotional help for couples coping with chronic disease should be considered.