Rachael Ray’s Pals ‘Worried’ Fights With John Cusimano Are Bad for Her Blood Pressure

Rachael Ray has admitted she and husband John Cusimano have their fair share of screaming matches, but they’re also committed to making their marriage work — despite what others may think.

“They’re together all the time, and that’s part of the problem, plus they’re both bullheaded,” an insider exclusively tells Closer. “They get on each other’s nerves a lot and argue at the top of their lungs. It’s their way of communicating. They lay it all out on the table.”

During the October 22 episode of the 56-year-old’s “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” podcast, Rachael got candid about her 19-year marriage to the 57-year-old actor and producer.

“It’s very hard, especially for hot-tempered or creative or vociferous loud people to be able to just calm it down,” she said. “John and I don’t calm it down ever. We have huge screaming matches all the time, but I think that’s healthy. I really do. And I don’t trust people that are too quiet.”

According to the Closer insider, “Rachael thinks this is actually good for their marriage because nothing is left unsaid. They also give each other space by retreating into separate rooms for a while to cool off.”

After they’ve had some time apart, the source explains, “Then they cook together. This is how they calm it down — for a while, until it starts up all over again.”

Rachael and John, who tied the knot on September 24, 2005, make their marriage work by being able to express their frustrations, the celebrity chef explained on her podcast.

“I am very wildly, wildly, wildly lucky that I have my husband,” Rachael said. “But he understands I need my space. He needs his space.”

Rachael also admitted on the podcast that she recently “had a couple bad falls.”

“I am a homemaker. I love chores, I love being in the kitchen. I always work with my brain every day, I’m always writing something,” she began. “But I really like chores. I like what people consider physical work. I like making dinners, planning dinners, making lists.”

After noting that she likes “helping carry in the wood,” Rachael admitted she recently had to take a break from that task. “I’ve had a couple of bad falls in the last couple of weeks, so I haven’t been doing that in a while.”

All of Rachael’s candid admissions have been cause for concern among her inner circle.

“People have been worried about Rachael after these scary falls, but Rachael says she has John and that there’s no reason to worry because John takes care of her,” says the Closer source. “She insists they never go to bed angry, but friends aren’t so sure these rows are good for her blood pressure and wish they’d get counseling like normal people do.”

Fans previously expressed concern when she appeared to slur her words in a Rachael Ray in Tuscany video posted in September. In the clip, Rachael shared a story about her late friend Tony Bennett as she explained how to make ossobuco, which was one of his favorite dishes.

Fans noticed that she took multiple pauses as she told the story. “I think it’s a mini stroke. Part of her mouth seems [to be] sinking. When was this???? I haven’t seen her this makes me so sad,” one person commented. Another chimed in, “What the heck is wrong with her? Messy hair, slurring words….wow just wow.”