Marriage may be hard on the arteries

DENVER, March 3 (UPI) -- Couples whose interactions were unfriendly were more likely to have heart disease than those who didn't approach arguments as a contest, says a U.S. study.

University of Utah researchers found women who were hostile during arguments with their husbands were more likely to develop atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, than those who were not, the New York Daily News reported Friday.

"Certainly a bad fight or a bad week of fights is not going to damage your heart health," said lead researcher Tim Smith. "We're talking about something that needs to be present over many years."

Smith, who presented his findings at a meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Denver, recommends married couples not be submissive, but assertive in their interactions.