5 Fights Every Happy Couple Should Have

Whether you’re in the throes of newlywed bliss or you’re creeping toward your 20th wedding anniversary, one thing is for sure: You and your wife are bound to have a few heated fights along the way.

But flare-ups aren’t necessarily a bad thing. “Some arguing is necessary in a relationship,” says NYC-based marriage and family therapist Jane Greer, Ph.D.

“If you never make it clear that you disagree with one another, then the anger and resentment go underground and come out in retaliatory behaviors, which can weaken your relationship,” she says.

What Years of Arguing With Your Spouse Does To Your Health

Marital spats can be a literal pain, according to new research from Northwestern University.

In a study that spanned two decades, researchers had married couples come into a lab every five years to rehash their common disagreements in front of a camera.

Experts studied their conversations, taking note of their facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. Then they surveyed the couples about their health.

Over the 20-year period, men who argued in certain ways were more likely to wind up with health problems.