Know How Love Keeps You Healthy

It doesn't just make you feel good  it can fight disease, boost immunity, and lower stress. Here's how...

Who doesn’t love being in love?

Scientists have long been keen to prove that love gives us health benefits too – beyond the obvious advantage of always having a date for New Year’s Eve.

Researchers can’t say for sure that romance trumps an affectionate family or warm friendships when it comes to wellness. But they are homing in on how sex, kinship and caring, all seem to make us stronger, with health gains that range from faster healing and better control over chronic illnesses to living longer.

A study found that women in good marriages have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those in high-stress relationships. Married people live longer, have fewer heart attacks and lower cancer rates, than singles.

Another study found that ovarian cancer patients with a strong sense of connection to others and satisfying relationships had more vigorous ‘natural killer’ cell activity at the site of the tumor than those who didn’t have those socialties.

Some experts think it won’t be long before doctors prescribe steamy sex, romantic getaways, and caring communication in addition to low cholesterol diets and plenty of rest. If that sounds like a happy Rx, here are ways to make the emerging evidence translate into real-life advice.

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