It probably comes as no surprise that the rate of marriage in this country has dropped in recent years. And significantly. According to 2002 numbers obtained by Divorce magazine from the U.S. Census Bureau – yes, there is actually a magazine devoted to divorce – the percentage of people married in this country stands at 59 percent, down from 72 percent in 1970. The percentage of people divorced? Approximately 10 percent.

Most sociologists agree that half of all marriages wind up in divorce. The reasons for divorce are manifold, but whatever the reason, it typically comes back to some fundamental lack of happiness within the marriage. And if one wants to get the health benefits from a marriage – like a strong and healthy heart – a happy marriage is what’s needed, not just the act of getting married, as some studies suggest. In fact, an unhappy marriage can decrease one’s heart health!

The study on marriage was conducted by researchers from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Researchers looked at approximately 200 married couples and 99 single adults, checking their blood pressure levels throughout the day to get a truly accurate average reading (Each participant blood pressure was taken 72 times in 24 hours). What they found was that among happily married couples, their blood pressure readings were an average of four points lower than those who were single. They also had lower blood pressure readings than their counterparts when they slept. The researchers rightly point out that elevated blood pressure readings while sleeping –when the body and heart are in their most relaxed state – increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Other interesting findings from the study found that among unhappily married couples, their blood pressure readings were higher than the single participants. Again, this suggests that the act of marriage does little to benefit health – it can actually make it worse. Happy and unhappy marriages were determined by giving the married participants questionnaires that asked them to rank how satisfied they were in their marriage.

What would really make this research stand out – and give a true indication of the benefits of happy marriages on heart health – is to perform a similar test on those in happy marriages and those who are happy while cohabitating. Cohabitation, or living together while unmarried, is on the rise in the United States. USA Today reports that among opposite-sex couples, the rate has increased more than 500 percent in 30 years (from less than 1 million in 1977 to 6.4 million in 2007). How the results turned out in such a study would give a better indication of whether advocates of cohabitation are on the right track (A 2007 poll indicated that half of respondents believed cohabitating led to fewer divorces; sociologists and researchers say just the opposite, however) or if they’re better off tying the proverbial knot.

In the meantime, if you see marriage in your future – or if you’re pondering popping the Big Question – you really ought to know your boyfriend/girlfriend “in all seasons.” By seeing him or her in all situations and in all of life’s vicissitudes, you’ll get a better feel for whether you can live with him or her for the rest of your life. You’ll also get a better indication of how happy he or she makes you feel. He or she might be able to put on facade for a month or two, but the façade inevitably fades with time, enabling you to see his or her true colors.