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A good friend might be a better listener or manicure buddy, but if you're looking to lower your blood pressure, it might help to get a fiance and head to the altar.

According to a new study released by a Brigham Young University researcher, those who are happily married have lower blood pressure than singles -- even those with supportive social networks. But there is no evidence the jumps come all at once, and those who were unhappily married had blood pressure higher than singles.

"I think it could be safely argued that the type of social support within a marital relationship would be just as important if not more important than support from social [relationships]," said BYU physiology professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad, who wrote the study.

She found that people in happy marriages surveyed for 24 hours had blood pressure four points lower than single adults who also were surveyed. The findings will be published in today's issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

The research helps to further explain why married adults are healthier and live longer. Holt-Lunstad said there could be something in the marriage relationship that can't be gleaned from mere friendship. Her research also shows that happily married people could have a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

"With the spousal relationship there's a greater level of commitment and intimacy -- at least a greater expectation of commitment and intimacy than in many other relationships," Holt-Lunstad said.

In addition to the general, lower blood pressure of those happily married, Holt-Lunstad said she and her co-researchers also found that married adults had blood pressure that dipped more than that of single adults when they slept. Those whose blood pressure stays high at night are at a greater risk for heart disease.

Holt-Lunstad said that as people age, their blood pressure tends to increase. Perhaps being married slows the climb due to the supportive marital relationship, she said.

BYU senior Katie NeVille isn't married and is fine with it. She said being married soon would be nice, but she isn't worried: She has friends.

"I live with great roommates," Neville said. "We can just go have fun together. We are just fine hanging out."

Neville did say that letting go of the social life would be one less stress to deal with if she were married.

"Of course marriage is going to come with problems," Neville said. "It will be nice just to have that stability."

BYU senior Randal Serr has been married for about three months. He said his life is easier because he doesn't have to carve out time to see his wife because they live together.

"You don't have to find the time to be with your significant other," Serr said.

It also helps that Serr doesn't get lonely anymore.

"The best part about marriage is the companionship," Serr said.

Holt-Lunstad acknowledged the pressures some BYU students feel to get married and said her samples came from the community, not from campus.

SOURCE:  Brittani Lusk, Daily Herald, heraldextra.com