Monday, December 12, 2011

Matrimony vs Cancer

A while back, Bob noted that "7 percent of U.S. adults married so one or the other could get on a partner's health insurance plan."

He found that statistic "astounding," as did I.

But maybe it's not so far-fetched:

"There are some big-time benefits to the old ball and chain: Married men tend to live longer ... They're also less likely to die from cancer compared to guys who never marry."

This conclusion is based on a recent study published at BMC Health, which found that "[r]ates of all-cause and cause-specific mortality are higher among unmarried than married individuals ... excess mortality of the never-married compared to the married has increased steadily for men, in particular the elderly."

But the stats for those of the fairer sex aren't much better: "Among elderly women, the excess mortality of the never-married compared to the married has increased ... there are indications of an increasing excess mortality of the widowed."

So maybe wedding cake is a panacea.

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