Hugging Loved Ones Can Reduce Stress and Lower Blood Pressure
Almost everyone loves to be hugged - even those that pretend they don't. Hugging is an immediate way for us to bond with loved ones, and virtually every culture on Earth appreciates the feelings of well-being that arise from a warm physical embrace. According to a new study by scientists at the University of Vienna; however, hugs also have a positive effect on our long-term health - in fact, regularly embracing our loved ones can even lower our blood pressure and stress levels.
The Austrian scientists discovered that the important hormone, oxytocin, was secreted into the bloodstream when a person hugged, or was hugged by, a trusted person. Oxytocin is produced by the pituitary gland, and its release can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve our memory. Usually, the pituitary gland secretes oxytocin during times of intense bonding, such as when a mother is breastfeeding her child or when we are comforting our spouse.
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