Hugs Relieve Stress

Anastasia Zhukova

The modern world is a very stressful place for the body. The fast pace of life, hard work, dangerous viruses - it seems that it is not easy to find protection from these "gifts" of reality. 

But in fact, maintaining your health is simple: it is enough to hug a loved one several times a day. Hugs speed up the production of valuable hormones in the body: oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. Each of them in its own way affects the processes in the human body, improving mood and well-being.

Oxytocin, the hormone of tenderness and affection, helps us calm down and relax when stressed by suppressing the action of the anxiety hormone cortisol, which in today's hectic world is in excess for most. 

Oxytocin is also responsible for a gradual decrease in blood pressure, strengthening the walls of blood vessels and normalisation of the heartbeat. This prevents the risk of heart attack and other problems with the cardiovascular system. 

Among other pleasant "bonuses" of the hormone of tenderness include acceleration of wound healing, inflammation suppression, removal of edema and improvement of mental abilities and memory.

Lack of oxytocin threatens the development of chronic stress. But, if you do not start the situation, it is quite simple to deal with the deficiency of this hormone: oxytocin begins to be produced in the body already 20 seconds after the start of hugs. 

The happy hormones endorphins and serotonin produced during hugs, as well as the pleasure hormone dopamine, charge a person with positive and relieve excessive anxiety, giving enthusiasm, self-confidence, a sense of satisfaction and interest in the world around. But the functions of endorphins, dopamine and serotonin are not limited to this. 

Endorphins relieve pain, speed up the healing of injuries and help restore muscle mass. Serotonin and dopamine relieve spasm from blood vessels, improving blood circulation and helping to saturate tissues with oxygen and nutrients, as well as remove toxins from the body. Serotonin plays an important role in regulating sleep, so evening hugs with a loved one can not only reduce night time anxiety, but also get rid of insomnia! Hugs also boost your immune system. 

This was found out in 2015 by specialists from the American Carnegie Mellon University, during the study they concluded that people who are hugged and supported more often catch a cold 32 per cent less often. 

In addition, during the production of "happy" hormones, the muscles of the body relax, due to which hugs help relieve muscle clamps. As they say, "a person needs little" ... And indeed: as the therapist of the National Medical Research Centre for Therapy and Preventive Medicine told "Arguments and Facts" Elena Zyatenkova , in order to feel the healing effect of supporting loved ones, on average, we only need 8 hugs in day. 

 What to do if there is absolutely no one to hug? You should not despair. You can give the body a similar pleasure by stroking an animal - or by simulating the comfort of touch with a warm shower, self-massage or a cozy blanket. 

Also, the development of "positive" hormones is facilitated by communication with loved ones and volunteering. But if a potential "object for hugs" is nearby, then let this article serve as another reason to take decisive action!

-- Pravda.ru