How love affects heart health: Cardiologists

Literally, love is good for you.

“There is evidence that maintaining supportive, happy relationships are healthy,” New York-Prisbinarian and Will Cornell Medicine cardiologist Joy Gelbman on “ The Post said.

“One theory is that being in a loving relationship can increase oxytocin levels and lower stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can improve blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health,” she said.

Oxytocin (called “love hormone”) is released in the brain through hugs, kisses, sex and snarls your boo. It promotes bonds and trust while reducing stress and making it good for you.

A 2019 study showed that oxytocin can inhibit or even reverse the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the arteries, which may slow down coronary artery disease (CAD).

According to a 2022 study, oxytocin may also stimulate the regeneration of cardiomyocytes in cardiomyocytes, potentially allowing it to repair heart tissue after events such as a heart attack.

This may help explain the cause, and according to Gelbman, people with heart disease are less likely to have a heart attack or die from cardiovascular disease.

“Not only that, married people generally live longer,” she added.

A 2017 study found that unmarried people had a 45% higher cardiovascular mortality rate than their married counterparts.

Researchers believe that in addition to the positive impact of companionship, there is a spouse who reminds you to take medication and follow healthy habits that can explain the association.

That being said, not all love and war are fair when it comes to gender.

“While marriage is associated with a lower risk of heart disease in both men and women, the impact of men may be stronger,” Gailman continued.

According to Harvard Health, married men are generally healthier than single, divorced or widowed and are actually three times more likely to die from a heart disease than married men.

A 2023 study by the American College of Cardiology found that men who have never been married are more than twice as likely to die from heart failure within five years of diagnosis than married men or any marital status.

Another study, published in 2009, found that men who have never been married and women who have separated or divorced are at the highest risk of dying from heart disease.

Age also seems to have an impact on the factors of outcomes.

“It seems that the marital effect on cardiovascular disease may be related to age,” Gellman said. “The effect seems to be the strongest among young people, such as the effect under 50 years old.

“That is, a study of married men in the UK found that men with improved marriage quality also had improved cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) consistently happy or unsatisfied marriages over time. .”

But don’t worry if you face Valentine’s Day alone.

“Not only romantic love can improve heart health, but also a strong social network that supports friends and family can also bring health benefits,” Gelbman reported.

“Even owning a pet can improve heart health by making a person more active and social, both of which affect the heart in a positive way.”