Why a marital argument hits you in the gut

OCCASIONAL squabbling is a normal part of marriage, but when it descends into vicious rows it can makes couples ill, a new study suggests.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that people who became embroiled in bad-tempered fights are more likely to suffer from leaky guts, which unleashes bacteria into the blood and triggers disease.

It is the first study to show how bad marriages can make people sick.

Lead author Dr Janice Kiecolt-glaser said: “We think that this everyday marital distress – for some people – is causing changes in the gut that lead to inflammation and, potentially, illness.

For the study, researchers recruited 43 married couples, recording hostile behaviour and taking blood samples. Those who demonstrated more hostile behaviours had higher levels of one biomarker for leaky gut, and high levels of inflammation throughout the body.

Previous research has shown marital discord can slow wound healing and drive up risk for inflammation-related diseases.