Are Illinois Singles More at Risk for Cancer? What the Study Shows

I came across this study about married couples vs. single people and their health risks.  It's actually pretty fascinating, to say the least.

The claim is that people who have never been married actually have a higher risk of cancer compared to those who have been married.  And not just by a little, it showed up across most cancer types.

“Our key finding is that the never-married population, about 1 in 5 adults, has consistently higher cancer risk across most cancer types,” said Dr. Paulo S. Pinheiro, the lead author of the study and an epidemiologist at the University of Miami health system." [25newsnow]

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At first, that sounds like one of those "is this true or nah?" kind of stats.  But when you really think about it, it kind of make sense.  The study pointed out that over time, especially as we get older, the gap becomes more noticeable.  So it's not just about being married in the moment, it's the long-term effect of having someone in your corner.  Someone reminding you to go to the doctor, nagging you (lovingly) about getting screenings, or telling you to chill on the bad habits.

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Left to our own devices, a lot of us will ignore things way longer than we should.  Having someone else involved probably keeps you a little more accountable.  But I also appreciate that the takeaway isn't "everyone needs to go get married immediately."  That's obviously not realistic.  The bigger picture is about a solid support system.  Whether it's a spouse, friends, family, or even that one person who checks in on you regularly... it matters.