Love is Good For Your Health

Everyone remembers the first time they fell in love. No matter what stage you were at in life, you can attest to the “puppy love” feelings that made you feel on top of the world. According to science, those feelings aren’t merely passing sensations – they’re real chemical reactions within your brain that actually deliver wonderful health benefits. As you learn to foster loving, romantic relationships, you can reap the benefits of being in love, which can have positive lifelong effects.

Reduce Your Anxiety

When you experience love by being with your partner, whether that’s through touch, communication, or simply enjoying each other’s company, your body has increased levels of dopamine and oxytocin. Both chemicals are linked to a boost in energy and happiness, while oxytocin is specifically beneficial for women’s health as a necessary hormone during labor and breastfeeding. In addition, you may have have lower stress levels if you feel deeply connected to your partner and trust that they have your best interest in mind. Less stress in your life has numerous benefits – healthier skin, lower blood pressure, and better sleep.

Improve Your Mood

Humans crave positive, supportive relationships, so it’s no mystery that healthy marriages show reduced rates of depression in men and women. After all, isolation and rejection has damaging effects on the human soul. In a study reported on by the British Medical Journal, men and women in secure marriages showed improved signs of mental health. Of course, that’s not to say that marriages don’t have their ups and downs – for those who recognize that love isn’t perfect, it can be a means to understanding and accomplishing tasks that might otherwise be hard to do on your own.

Boost Your Cardiovascular Health and Prevent Chronic Illness

Love is good for the heart, literally. In a 2013 study conducted by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, it was shown that marriage lowered the risk of heart attacks for males and females of all ages. The US Department of Health and Human Services consistently finds that couples in committed relationships visit the doctor’s office less, and have less likelihood to develop chronic illnesses including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. This could be due to a range of factors, but many doctors speculate that when you have someone who supports you who you are accountable to, you’re more more likely to care about your hygiene and physical health, which could lead to less chronic conditions.

It’s no doubt that humans are wired to love another. When you fall in love with someone, the heart, mind, and body all work towards building and deepening that relationship not only for the benefit of your partner, but for your personal health.