Besides a heart full of love and a big smile, romance can bring some positive health benefits, a loving relationship, physical touch and s*x can bring health benefits.
Let us find out how….
s*x is good for your heart: Anything that exercises your heart is good for you, including s*x.
S*xual arousal sends the heart rate higher, and the number of beats per minute reaches its peak during orgasm.
But, as with most exercise, it depends on how vigorously you do it. Some studies show the average peak heart rate at orgasm is the same as during light exercise, such as walking upstairs. That, however, is not enough to keep most people fit and healthy.
Adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week. Unless you are having 150 minutes of orgasms a week, then you should try cycling, brisk walking or dancing to keep healthy.
A heart disease or condition does not have to hold you back in the bedroom. You can actually have s*x as long as you can do the everyday activities that have the same impact on your heart without causing chest pain, such as walking up two flights of stairs.
A hug keeps tension away: Embracing someone special can lower blood pressure. In one experiment, couples who held each other’s hands for 10 minutes followed by a 20-second hug had healthier reactions to subsequent stress, such as public speaking. Compared with couples who rested quietly without touching, the huggers had lower heart rate, lower blood pressure and smaller heart rate increases. So give your partner a hug; it may help to keep your blood pressure healthy.
Similar effects have been found for non-s*xual stroking, although this appears to only reduce blood pressure in women who are stroked, not men.
s*x can be a stress buster: s*x could help you beat the stresses of 21st century living, according to a study of 46 men and women. Participants kept a diary of s*xual activity, recording penetrative s*x, non-penetrative s*x and masturbation.
In stress tests, including public speaking and doing mental arithmetic out loud, had no s*x at all had the highest stress levels. People who only had penetrative s*x had the smallest rise in blood pressure. This shows that they coped better with stress.
A lot of people discover that intimacy or orgasm without penetration helps them feel relaxed, just like exercises or meditation. It doesn’t have to be penetrative s*x; find out what works for you
Weekly s*x might help fend off illness: There is a link between how often you have s*x and how strong your immune system is. A study in Pennsylvania, United States, found students who had s*x once or twice a week had higher levels of an important illness-fighting substance in their bodies.
People who have s*x feel healthier: It could be that people who feel healthier have more s*x, but there seems to be a link between s*xual activity and your sense of well-being.
A study of 3,000 Americans aged 57-85 showed that those who were having s*x rated their general health higher than those who weren’t. And it is not just s*x; it is love, too. People who were in a close relationship or married were more likely to say they felt in “very good” or “excellent” health than just “good” or “poor”. It seems that emotional and social support can boost our sense of well-being.
Loving support reduces risk of angina and ulcer: A happy marriage can help fend off angina and stomach ulcers – at least, it can if you’re a man.
One study of 10,000 men found those who felt “loved and supported” by their spouse had a reduced risk of angina.
This was the case even if they had other risk factors, such as being older or having raised blood pressure. Similarly, a study of 8,000 men found there was more chance of them getting a duodenal ulcer if they had family problems or didn’t feel loved and supported by their wife.
Researchers suggest that stress, lack of social support and coping style can all affect a man’s likelihood of developing an ulcer.
And if you’re single: Spending an evening with friends is good for your health, too. One 10-year study of 1,500 people over 70 years old found those with stronger friendship networks lived longer than those with fewer friends.
Researchers thought this could be because friends may have a positive influence on lifestyle choices, such as smoking or exercise, and offer emotional support.
