The You Docs Tip of the Day: Spouses who play together are happier

Published: March 7, 2013 

You and your spouse have vowed to stick with each other “through sickness and in health,” but today let’s focus on the health part. We know that partners who play together, stay together. Just look at Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth; they’re often photographed jogging together — sometimes with the kids! And Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf have played together both on and off the court for the past 10 years.

Seems when you and your true love share sweat (from exercise, we mean), you build strong emotional bonds along with strong muscles. Working out with your partner demonstrates that you care about their physical health as well as your own; it lets them know that you like to spend time together; and it builds trust and interdependence as you both work to expand your endurance and physical abilities.

Another plus: When you and your honey work out together, you’re more likely to stick with the exercise routine, whether it’s walking, biking, golfing or swimming, and to make lasting lifestyle upgrades in other areas, too — eating better, not smoking and becoming less stressed.

But if those aren’t reasons enough to form an exercise duo, listen up: Exercise stimulates the production of make-you-happy brain chemicals and increases your libido and your feelings of arousal. That’s right: Couples who exercise together regularly report better and more frequent sex.

Putting out a little effort together can improve your health and sex life, too. What’s not to like? So repeat after us: “Honey, grab your sneakers.”

Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D., is chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. To live your healthiest, visit sharecare.com. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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