NEW YORK -- Although talking things through is generally a good idea in marriage, new research suggests that serious conflicts between partners can be hazardous to their health.

Investigators at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, found that, during discussions between couples with a somewhat turbulent relationship in which one partner wanted the other to make certain changes in their marriage, the change-desiring spouse often experienced a marked increase in blood pressure, which lasted as long as the conversation.

A sustained and repeated increase in blood pressure can affect a spouse's health, perhaps eventually leading to cardiovascular disease, the study's lead author told Reuters Health.

"There may be some type of physical toll that is taken on a person," said Dr. Tamara L. Newton.

During the study, Newton and her co-author monitored changes in heart rate and blood pressure in both members of married couples as they discussed topics of conflict.

In one discussion, the partners talked about changes the husband wished the wife would make, while the other talk focused on things the wife wished the husband would change about himself.

In an interview, Newton said that the changes sought by husbands and wives ranged in importance, and included wishing the partner would spend more or less time with in-laws, participate more in housework or childcare, spend less money or make changes in their sex life.

In general, people who experienced the highest increases in blood pressure during the tense discussions were those who also showed the most negative behaviors during the discussions, Newton said. Negative behaviors included being critical or antagonistic, or dominating partners by cutting them off and being dogmatic.

And among couples who adopted those negative behaviors, blood pressure tended to increase more while discussing points in which they wanted their partners to change than when talking about something their partner wanted to change about them.

The discussions lasted for 15 minutes, and this increase in blood pressure continued throughout the entire conversation, Newton noted.

These findings suggest that the person who desires change is more likely to feel the health effects of arguments, she added. The other partner, who is representing the way things currently are, is "in a more secure position, I think," she said. "They have more control, more security, there's less effort involved."

Research has shown that women typically desire more changes from their partners than men do, Newton said.

Studies have also shown that women may experience increases in blood pressure during conflict not seen in men -- but, according to this newest research, Newton said this increase could stem from the fact that women are more likely to desire change, and not from gender itself.