I remember the day Cupid’s arrow pierced me squarely in the heart. Seriously, my heart started to flutter and I felt like I had to sit down. It was the first time I saw my husband. I knew he was good on the eyes, but the feeling I had was directly in my heart.
I would say he “stole my heart,” but after doing a little research on the connection between love and coronary health, I now know he fortified it! Initially, my flushed cheeks and that pitter-patter was caused by a rush of adrenaline which makes your heart beat faster. But as a relationship grows, love actually calms your heart and lowers your blood pressure. Most studies indicate cupid’s arrow is really good for you.
Love, romance and frequent you-know-what have serious health benefits. A dose of love results in fewer coronary events. People who say they’re in love tend to live longer with lower blood pressure. And if you end up getting married, as we did two years later, chances are you’ll live longer. The research shows married men extend their lives by seven years and women by two years. And if you have heart troubles, your odds for recovery are better if you’re married.
Even when you think your spouse is acting like a jerk, (which, between you and me, my Prince Charming occasionally does) medical journals indicate your relationship is still more likely to leave you with a better blood pressure reading than your single friends. But it isn’t just love from your spouse that works as the elixir. Love from your family, friends or even Fido is powerful, too. (Some studies show that after a heart procedure, people with dogs or cats survive longer.)
The bottom line is, love, wherever it comes from, is good for your heart. Let’s spread the word and spread the love. Happy Valentine’s Day.