Marriage troubles take toll on women's hearts

March 5, 2009 New research finds both men and women in strained marriages were more likely to experience depression. But the wives had increased risk factors for heart disease.

Researchers are unsure why women are more affected than men.

Ironically, the same study finds leaving the troubled marriage offered little relief and that divorce also raises the odds of heart disease.

Counseling for rocky relationships seemed to help couples cope with the stress and depression.

Scientists at the University of Utah studied 276 couples married an average 20 years for this report.