Why it’s heart disease for Mr and Mrs

THE marriage vow to care for each other ‘in sickness and in health’ could be more of a forecast for the future than couples realise, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that the risk of developing heart disease tends to run in married couples, as many share food preferences, eating patterns and attitudes to exercise, cigarettes and alcohol.

Professor Takehiro Sugiyama, of Japan’s University of Tsukuba, says: ‘Our findings stress that healthcare professionals should target not only patients’ blood-relatives, but also their spouses. Medical information should include the partner’s data.’