Cheap, Quick Way to Destress
Next time someone you know acts a little stressed out, give 'em a hug.
Like a Snuggie for your insides, hugs are linked to warm, fuzzy feelings. Even better, those good feelings translate into lower heart rate and blood pressure. Studies show a hug from a loving partner dampens stress in people both before and after a difficult time.
Hug It Out
In a world where so many things send stress levels soaring, you can never get too many hugs. In a study of premenopausal women, those who received the most hugs and massages from their significant others had the highest levels of oxytocin -- a hormone and brain chemical linked to happy feelings and security in relationships. And even better, oxytocin is related to lower heart rate and blood pressure. (Is your blood pressure hurting your health? Get a quick check by answering these questions.)
Oxy-cise Every Day
Another good thing about oxytocin: It helps keep your blood pressure in check when you're stressing about an upcoming event or trying to recover from a nerve-racking experience. Seems oxytocin somehow puts the brakes on the branch of the nervous system that ramps up heart rate and blood pressure. Or it may be that oxytocin works directly on the heart and blood vessels to keep them calm when tensions rise. Bust stress further with these relax-already strategies:
RealAge Benefit:
Long-term, loving relationships can make your RealAge as much as 6.5 years younger.
More frequent partner hugs and higher oxytocin levels are linked to lower blood pressure and heart rate in premenopausal women. Light, K. C. et al., Biological Psychology 2005 Apr;69(1):5-21.
