he next time your spouse does a Rousseau, saying, "Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains," as he or she cribs about being married, fling a printout at him/ her.

A US government study has found marriage is good for health.

The study, which was undertaken by the National Centre for Health Statistics, interviewed 1,27,545 people over three years to arrive at this conclusion. The Centre is part of the US government's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health hazard: Smoking

Among the people interviewed, 18.8 percent of married people said they were likely to smoke less than the overall 22.9 percent.

Living together is better, did we hear you say?

The study says the people most likely to give in to the nicotine need were those living with an unmarried partner. The figure stands at 38.4 percent.

Divorced people were next in line, at 34.7 percent.

Health hazard: Drinking

The next target of the study was the booze bottle.

The study found, expectantly, that married people were less likely to become heavier drinkers than they already were.

Here again, couples living together and divorced people had the highest risk factor.

Blame it on the wife's caterwauling, but face it, it is good for you.

Health benefits of staying married

For those of you who worship Uncle Galahad (English author P G Wodehouse's immortal creation, a man who attributes his robust health at 80-something to bachelorhood and never drinking anything more innocuous than beer), here's a reality check: the survey found married people had less low back pain, headaches or stress in general.

They were also more active than those not married.

And now, here are three steps that should help you stay married, and thus healthy.

1. Space

This is not about buying a smaller sofa; it is about giving each other breathing space. Face it, your spouse has a life and thoughts beyond you.

2. PDA

Not the headline-hogging smooching-in-disco kinds, but a personal display of affection. Show him/her your love. All of us tend to take it for granted and stop expressing at times.

Share

From the book you loved to the joke your friend e-mailed you, sharing creates a bond. Think of your spouse as your best friend.

Image: Dominic Xavier