The Beatles were on to something. When it comes to protecting your heart, love may be your most potent protective covering.
If you want to reduce stress and anxiety, decrease your blood pressure and total cholesterol, you know the importance of good nutrition, exercise and not smoking. But did you know the simple act of loving along with some specific behaviors that go with it, can also empower your heart? So if you really want to improve your next stress test… turn up your love meter. Here’s how:
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Grab a hand. If it’s peace and serenity you’re seeking, people think of yoga or meditation or maybe a hot bath. Turns out, just holding hands can also have that calming effect. A study published in the journal Psychological Science showed that a little pressure when holding hands, specifically a squeeze between the thumb and forefinger, could calm pain and anxiety and promote a feeling of well-being. The less stress you have, the less likely you are to have an increased heart rate and other factors that can lead to heart disease.
She Loves You
Fall in love! Oh the wonders of a new relationship! You know that magical feeling when your heart goes pitter patter. Your brain is busy releasing a drug cocktail of hormones: Adrenaline, dopamine and norepinephrine. They all help to strengthen your heart beat and get your blood circulating more efficiently. It’s a workout. It’s similar to what happens when you jog around the block. You even feel healthier. But don’t get me wrong… you still need to exercise.
Love Me Do
Surround yourself with people you love and who love you. It’s a great way to keep your blood pressure down. A study reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine suggested a loving relationships and healthy friendships may be the key to a healthy heart.
Hold Me Tight
Go give someone a squeeze! I’m a real believer in hug therapy. I don’t need a study to show it makes a person feel better though there are plenty of studies. The act of hugging releases the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin. We also immediately reduce the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone produced in our bodies. In an experiment at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, people who didn’t have any contact with their partners developed a quickened heart rate of 10 beats per minute compared to the five beats per minute among participants who were allowed to hug their partners
Bottom line: Love is all you need. I’m off to hug and kiss and hold hands with my hubby. It’s good for the heart.
