Results of a recent study have said that couples who hug and kiss have lower stress hormone levels in their bodies especially if they are married.
The week long Swiss study by researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, of 51 German couples who were mostly married checked the cortisol levels in their saliva. Cortisol, a hormone in the body, also responsible for several stress-related changes in the body, is secreted by the adrenal glands, has been termed “the stress hormone” because high levels of it are secreted during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. Small increases in cortisol have positive effects on the body like helping in proper glucose metabolism and regulation of blood pressure. Higher levels of cortisol are seen in the morning with its lowest levels at night.
The study found that the couples who reported having more physical contact either from holding hands, sexual intercourse or just kissing and cuddling had lower levels of cortisol. Even couples who had more work related stress cut down on their cortisol levels by displays of affection and intimacy.
Beate Ditzen of Zurich University, who conducted the research said intimacy seemed to improve the hormone levels by boosting the mood. She stressed that it was not intimacy per se that was needed but couples finding things they could do together that would create positive feelings for each other. The definition of intimacy differs from couple to couple and Dr Ditzen said. "This means that there is no specific behavior that couples should show in everyday life. Rather, all kinds of behavior which couples themselves would consider intimate... might be beneficial,” the expert added.
Source: http://www.topnews.in/healthcare
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