A Little LOVE Does a Body Good

During the month of February, we talk a lot about the heart, in terms of valentines, love and relationships, but we don’t really ever equate that to the actual heart that beats in our chests, keeping us alive. What’s interesting is that these two seemingly vastly different things – the notion of love and paper hearts and a blood-pumping lump of flesh are more connected than you’d expect. If we decide to run with this season’s theme of love and to embrace and cultivate the sentiment full-heartedly, we just might improve the health of the organ that is arguably the most important of them all.

What we know from a health standpoint is that stress and anxiety cause a lot of problems in the body. In people with generalized anxiety, studies have shown higher rates of heart attack and cardiac events. Anxiety is intertwined with the body’s stress response (fight or flight) and when there is a constant pattern of ups and downs, it can cause repercussions like high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances, and heart attacks. Not too mention, living under sustained stress or anxiety raises the hormone cortisol for longer durations resulting in inflammation that can damage artery linings, promote plaque accumulation and trigger blood clots. This sets the stage for future cardiac issues.

So what’s love got to do with any of this?

Love, as it turns out decreases the stress response, which in turn lowers blood pressure and heart rate. Relieving the stress response also decreases overall inflammation. Studies have shown that married people and those with strong support systems tend to recover better from heart procedures and have a better survival rate. As might be expected, when people are supported, they also tend to follow the medical advice given to them by doctors, unlike their more isolated counterparts.

The magic isn’t in romantic love specifically, but rather in love of any kind, whether that means being surrounded by a loving family, great friends or even the unwavering admiration of a beloved pet. The curative force is most related to the calming effects that are the result of strong and reliable relationships. The power of a having a strong family network, compassionate friends or a trusty furry companion that is thrilled every time you walk in the door is that all of these things reduce stress and bring forth joy. That means that when life happens, as it undoubtedly does for all of us, those with loving networks are better able to manage stress and anxiety. This equates to less trauma in your body and on your heart.

The easiest starting point for heart health is to use your heart for what it’s most colloquially known for – to love. Use it often and freely. When you do, you’ll find that you’re a bit calmer, more at peace, and likely a bit happier, thereby reducing the opportunities for stress to get a foothold. So send that old friend a card, call your mom, and strike up a conversation with your cashier because the more connections you create, the healthier you and the people you connect with will be.

Resources

“How Love Affects Your Heart.” Scripps. Jan 24, 2019. https://www.scripps.org/news_items/4743-how-love-affects-your-heart#:~:text=All%20types%20of%20love%20can,ones%20after%20cardiac%20bypass%20surgery.

“Love, Relationships and Health: The Surprising Benefits of Being in Love.” The Beacon by Luminis Health. Feb. 7, 2020. https://living.aahs.org/heart-vascular/love-relationships-and-health-the-surprising-benefits-of-being-in-love/

“Calm Your Anxious Heart.” Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. Oct. 1, 2019. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/calm-your-anxious-heart