Four reasons why love is good for your health – Telegraph.co.uk

As insufferable couples the world over celebrate Valentines Day, those of us not in relationships can only sit by in silence, watching on as they shower each other in overpriced flowers, heart-shaped gifts and general soppiness.

But while the loved-up legions snog, smooch and snuggle, spare a thought for those who arent so lucky, especially those in later life. A new study published by the School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California has shown that loneliness in middle age and beyond can lead to a significantly higher chance of heart disease.

Its something that Sandeep Jauhar, cardiologist and author of Heart: A History, knows only too well. We know that grief or heartbreak has harmful effects on the heart and we know that people who are in unhappy relationships with their spouses tend to have more cardiac events, he says. But the question is, does being in love have direct biological effects on the heart?

And the answer, it appears, is yes. As a cardiologist with over 20 years experience, Jauhar has noted how those patients who have reported being in love or who are in a stable and happy relationship not only have better outcomes after suffering cardiac events but also tend to live longer.

While many studies concentrate on the negative effects of loneliness, there isnt a great deal of data on what being in love actually does to the heart but it stands to reason that emotional resilience, less stress and feeling in love are all tremendously beneficial for the heart, he says.

Certainly, the idea of heartbreak, or what Jauhar calls broken heart syndrome, does have direct biological effects on the heart. Termed takotsubo cardiomyopathy, it was first described by doctors in Japan and detailed how the heart becomes weaker after an episode of grief or stress like, for instance, the passing of a life partner or the end of a long-term relationship. Symptoms can often replicate the same sensations experienced during a heart attack, with patients often reporting shortness of breath and chest pain.

We also know, from old epidemiological studies, that spouses tend to die within one year of each other, adds Jauhar. But while there is a lot of evidence to show how emotional distress has negative effects, like broken heart syndrome, there are benefits from positive emotions like love that lead to increases in the parasympathetic nervous system, which can promote blood vessel dilation and other salutary effects that probably alleviate cardiac conditions.

But they arent the only benefits

If youre in a happy relationship youre less likely to suffer from the negative consequences of depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that being in love helps your body to produce more oxytocin the hormone that plays a key part in everything from trust and empathy to social behaviour to sexual reproduction and that, in turn, prompts the brain to release more dopamine and adrenaline, which is why your heart beats faster and why you feel happier.

Relationships are good at keeping a lid on stress. In a study from the University of Utah that looked at cohabiting couples, it was found that when they were separated for up to a week, they all registered higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as suffering from disturbed sleep when they were apart. When they were reunited, the cortisol declined while levels of oxytocin rose once more.

Anyone in a long-term relationship will find that theyre more motivated to ditch all those unhealthy habits they might have, like smoking or heavy drinking, thanks to the support and encouragement they'll receive from their partner. In a study published in the journal Psychology Today, it was found that if one half of a relationship was to stop drinking alcohol, the other half would be five times more likely to do the same. Being happy with your partner can also inspire you to achieve your fitness goals as youll feel more supported and more confident in your abilities. The extra adrenaline youll produce when youre working out will also act as an appetite suppressant so itll work wonders for the waistline, too.

All of the above means those in stable long-term relationships live longer. One study, by the State University of New York at Oswego revealed that when couples are together it leads to a fall in blood pressure for both parties, while academics at Harvard University found that married women are up to 20 per cent less likely to die of stress-related reasons than their single counterparts. Its even more pronounced for married men who are up to 200 per cent less likely to pass away because of issues like cirrhosis of the liver and heart disease.

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Four reasons why love is good for your health - Telegraph.co.uk