Not only does love feel good, but health experts are saying it’s good for you. The physical aspects of being in love may have positive effects on your heart, cardiovascular system, mental state and overall well being.
Quality time with a loved one can lower blood pressure
Spending quality time with a significant other greatly reduces blood pressure. Researchers link a dip in blood pressure to what some call a comfortable silence — less forced conversation. Less stress, which also is seen in healthy relationships, lowers blood pressure as well.
Your heart’s a flutter — in a good way
That racing feeling you get when you see your spouse or a new partner stems from two chemicals called dopamine and adrenaline, which are released from your brain and make your heart beat temporarily faster than normal. These periods of increased activity can actually condition your heart to pump blood more effectively and improve circulation as seen during exercise.
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Hugs help your heart
While hugging, your body releases oxytocin, also known as the happy hormone. Oxytocin has been found to reduce stress and lower blood pressure in some studies. Hugging is your body’s way of self-medicating to increase happiness felt.
Laughter is the best medicine
Recent research shows that a good laugh can ease stress reducing anxiety and even narrow blood vessels, which are responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen throughout your body. So, chuckle a little louder — your arteries will thank you.
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Positivity and heart disease prevention
A positive outlook on life may lessen your risk for cardiovascular disease, while negativity can weigh down your mental state and increases your chances of heart disease. Positivity is a win-win for your mind and heart.
The calming effect of holding hands
The intimate touch of upper extremities calms the body significantly, according to a study published in Psychological Science. Researchers recruited happily married couples and placed the women in M.R.I. scanners and asked them to prepare for a mild shock. The contact with their husbands’ hands reduced the women’s brain activity associated with expected pain.
Boosts the immune system
While researchers aren’t sure why loving amps immunity, it does. People in loving relationships report fewer colds than their single counterparts.
Perks memory
Areas of the brain where memories live are triggered while in love. Feeling of love can improve memory and intelligence. Thinking of your loved one during an exam may improve your score!
So, whether you’re in a romantic relationship or simply cherish the close bonds of family and friends, that warm and fuzzy feeling of love can have long-lasting benefits to your cardiovascular system. And the more you love, the greater the effect — paying it forward could result in a healthier, stronger community.
Happy Valentine’s Day!