Author: M. Asem Ismail Zahi
The Importance and position of Marriage from the Perspective of Medicine (Part 5)
Marriage and Nikah from the Perspective of Medicine
Marriage and nikah are presented in medicine as a broad and comprehensive concept. This concept has numerous effects on an individual’s and society’s life, encompassing psychological, social, and physiological aspects. Marriage gives a person a sense of security and mental satisfaction, facilitates the development of social relations, and contributes to the upbringing of the next generation. This relationship not only helps improve an individual’s mental and physical health but also aids in the development of social aspects and the education of offspring. Ultimately, marriage, as a significant and wide-ranging concept, plays a vital role in the structure and development of Islamic societies. [1]
Benefits of Marriage for Physical and Mental Health from the Medical Perspective
Marriage has many physical and spiritual benefits for both men and women. Married individuals enjoy better physical and psychological conditions compared to single ones. Interestingly, recent studies show that married cancer patients are more likely to survive than unmarried patients. The mortality rate among single patients is higher, showing a significant difference between the two groups. [2]
Benefits of Marriage and Being Married for Men’s and Women’s Physical Health from the Medical View
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Encouragement of Safer Behavior
Married couples are significantly less involved in risky behaviours such as drug use or reckless driving. These individuals notably reduce their engagement in dangerous activities. One theory suggests that married people recognize that someone depends on them and therefore make conscious decisions to preserve their own lives. [3]
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Lower Probability of Heart Attacks
According to physicians, marriage reduces the risk of heart attacks in both men and women. Married women are about 65% less likely to experience a heart attack, and men 66% less likely. The study indicates that marriage also reduces the risk of acute respiratory events and death in men and women of all ages. Married people may manage financial issues better, live healthier lives, and have more friends, thus enjoying greater social support. [4]
Benefits of Marriage for the Body’s Health from the Medical Perspective
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Lower Risk of Stroke
According to a report published by the American Stroke Association, married men have a 64% lower chance of suffering a stroke compared to single men. The study also found that marital satisfaction can influence the likelihood of avoiding a stroke.
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Lower Stress Levels
Marriage can significantly reduce stress and depression levels. Having a long-term bond can alter hormones in ways that impact stress. Testosterone levels tend to decrease, leading to lower levels of stress hormones, and cortisol levels decline in both genders—a hormone necessary for stress regulation. Although marriage can sometimes be stressful, it helps individuals better manage other stressors in life.
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Higher Chances of Recovery from Major Surgeries
A study conducted in 2011 found that a supportive spouse can be key to recovery from invasive medical procedures. Fortunately, patients who undergo surgery are more than three times as likely to live 15 years longer than those who have never been married. [5]
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Lower Incidence of Mental Illness
Married men and women are significantly less likely to suffer from severe mental disorders. They are much less prone to major depression, and at least half of them have a lower likelihood of developing psychological disorders compared to single individuals. [6]
Physical Health Benefits of Marriage from the Medical Perspective
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Better Sleep
If your marriage is a healthy one, you tend to sleep better than your dissatisfied counterparts. Women, in particular, show greater improvement after marriage. Married people have significantly better sleep quality than singles. However, staying in an unhappy marriage can be a risk factor for sleep disorders. Poor sleep can lead to irritability, greater stress, and lower tolerance, which can further affect the relationship.
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Longer Life and Protection Against Premature Aging and Death
Marriage effectively adds several years to a person’s life—and in some cases, up to ten years. In a study involving around 5,000 people born in the 1940s, researchers observed how stability and changes in marital patterns affected lifespan. They found that those who had stable, long-term marriages lived more than twice as long as those who had never married. [7]
Benefits of Marital Relations from the Medical Perspective
Sexual relations are one of the fundamental elements of human life and have deep and diverse effects on physical and mental health. In traditional medicine, sexual relations are not merely viewed as a physical act but as a holistic process that can enhance quality of life and overall well-being. This perspective regards sexual relations as an essential part of life, emphasizing balance, harmony, and healthy coexistence between partners.
In traditional medicine, maintaining healthy sexual relations can increase vitality and energy, strengthen the immune system, and have positive effects on mental and emotional well-being. Besides strengthening emotional and social bonds, such relations contribute to hormonal balance and proper physiological functioning of the body. [8]
Continues…
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References:
[1] Fatoohi, Abdullah. Principles of Spouse Selection and Marital Life from the Perspective of Islam, p.16, 2016, Nasim-e-Hejaz Publications.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Baum, Rosen. The Family as a Structure Against Society, p.220, Translated by Mohammad Sadeq Mehdi, Tehran: Daneshgahi Publishing, 1984.
[4] Chopankareh, Shahnaz. Sexual Knowledge, p.66, Ghalam-e-Javan Publications, 2012, Iran.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ghazanfari, Zhaleh. Marriage and Perfection: An Introduction to the Impact of Marriage on the Development of the Soul and Body, p.351, 2006, Faragiran Sina Publications, Tehran.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Akbari, Mahmoud. Sweet Life, p.122, 2009, Golestan-e-Adab Publications, Iran.
