We’re headed into that heart month – February.

Flowers &  cards.

Chocolate.

Dinner for two.

Intimacy.

What about your heart?

I’m not talking only about emotions…  I’m talking about the physical muscle!

How is that muscle beating in your chest?

(The one that flutters when your spouse walks in the room!)

Would you like to encourage your spouse AND strengthen their heart?

Spend time hugging.

A hug. Sixty Seconds. One minute.

Benefits from hugging – research done by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill :

Higher levels of Oxytocin.  Oxytocin has been linked to feelings of contentment, calmness, security, bonding, and trust.  Higher levels decrease anxiety and fear.  Physiologically, oxytocin causes the “letdown reflex” for nursing moms, uterine contraction, and increased wound healing. All good stuff, right?

Lowered Blood Pressure. About 1 in 3 adults in the USA has high blood pressure. (I do. Rob doesn’t.) How is your blood pressure? How about your spouse?  In the above study, it was shown that hugging reduces blood pressure. Healthy blood pressure is linked to decreased risk of: coronary heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. Apparently a healthy heart is good to have!

 Take the time to hug your spouse.

Hug.

Chest to Chest.

Hug. From behind.

Hug.

Lying down, standing up, sitting on the couch, inside, outside, on the street, in the kitchen, at the door, in the car, morning, noon, and night, at the top of the hour, at the quarter hour, at breakfast, at bedtime, hug hard, hug long, hug with both arms wrapped around each other.

And then do it again.

And again.

Hugs feel good. They’re beneficial for your heart.

When was the last time you hugged your spouse for 60-seconds?  

Leave a comment – let’s start a hugging epidemic!

Linking up with

Happy Wives Club – Why I love my husband!

(As you can imagine, I love Rob because he always – everyday for the last 30+ years – has hugged me. 😉  )

 

 ps –  I’m a blogger – not a doctor. I have no training in health care.

If, for some reason your doctor says you shouldn’t hug – please don’t…. 😛   😎