Being in a happy relationship is great for your mental health, but how does love help your heart health? Find out how the two connect.
Falling in love can make you feel all sorts of things, but did you know that it can also benefit your heart health? “We are social creatures and we do best when we have strong social support systems,” says Baran Kilical, MD, cardiologist at Anne Arundel Medical Center. “Being in love can affect everything from your stress levels to your heart health.”
In contrast, a 2017 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that unmarried individuals with heart disease are 52% more likely to have a heart attack or die from cardiovascular issues. Typically, married people have a lower death rate than those who are single, divorced, or widowed.
Love and Life
According to studies, there is a clear link between strong, happy relationships and a longer lifespan. Moreover, most research suggests that men particularly benefit from being married, even though both men and women can benefit. “Social isolation is a major risk factor for death from a variety of causes in both genders,” says Kilical.
How does love boost heart health? One theory has to do with the improved function of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, “our sympathetic nervous system, or our stress ‘fight-or-flight’ response likely plays a role as well,” explains Kilical. Furthermore, people who are happily married and experience a heart attack may also have a 14% lower risk of dying from it.
Being married can also reduce your risk of complications and death from pneumonia, with a 13% lower risk of dying during hospitalization. Of course, being in love can also boost your mental health, reduce your stress, and strengthen your immune system.
“Thanks to endocrine research (the study of hormones) and modern functional brain MRIs, we can get a peek behind the scenes,” says Kilical. “Love causes changes in many of your hormones including oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine, serotonin, cortisol and testosterone.”
The Outlook
Being in a happy relationship can really enhance your heart and overall health, but what if you don’t have a significant other? According to Kilical, positive and close relationships with family and friends can also keep you healthy.
There are also other things you can do to boost your health if you’re single. For example, you can eat heart-healthy foods, exercise regularly, and take supplements like Circulation Boost.
Its ingredients can efficiently promote your circulation, blood pressure health, energy levels, and more. If you’re ready to support your heart health, then enjoy the company of your loved ones and take Circulation Boost.