Four reasons why love is good for your health

Admittedly, the idea of ​​a heart attack, or what Jauhar calls a broken heart syndrome, has a direct biological effect on the heart. It was called "takotsubo myocardial infarction" and was first described by doctors in Japan and explained how the heart becomes weaker after a grief or stress factor such as the death of a life partner or the end of a long-term relationship.

Symptoms can often be the same as those of a heart attack, with patients often reporting shortness of breath and chest pain. "We also know from old epidemiological studies that spouses tend to die within a year of each other," Jauhar added. "But while there is plenty of evidence to show how emotional distress has a negative effect, such as a broken heart syndrome, the benefits of positive emotions such as love lead to an increase in the parasympathetic nervous system, which can help dilate blood vessels. and other health benefits that are likely to reduce heart disease.

But they are not the only benefits… Love is ... an exercise for the heart If you are in a happy relationship, you are less likely to suffer from the negative consequences of depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that being in love helps the body produce more oxytocin - the hormone that plays a key role in everything from trust and compassion to social behavior to sexual reproduction - and it stimulates the brain to release more dopamine and adrenaline. , which is why your heart beats faster and why you are happier.

Love is ... stressful Relationships are good for managing stress. A University of Utah study of cohabiting couples found that when they were separated for up to a week, they all recorded higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as suffering from sleep disturbances when they were apart. . When combined again, cortisol decreased while oxytocin levels increased again. Love is ... boosting self-confidence