Everyone is stressed. It's a natural part of our everyday lives. Unfortunately, when stress goes unchecked, meaning you don't find a healthy outlet to relieve it, spiked cortisol levels in your body can start to have a negative physical impact. The Mayo Clinic advises that stress can cause a multitude of symptoms — from headaches and digestive issues to decreased sex drive. And while bouts of stress are normal, if you don't learn to manage it, they warn, the physical repercussions "can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes."
Guess what naturally reduces stress? Yup, cuddling! Healthline explains that simply spooning with your sweetheart releases the hormone oxytocin, which also happens to be affectionately dubbed "the cuddle chemical or love hormone." According to WebMD, oxytocin has a calming effect on the body and can lower both your blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Dr. Laurie Bennett-Cook, a clinical sexologist, told YourTango that oxytocin also "has the ability to increase our immune systems and decrease pain." It certainly sounds like cuddling is the cure for almost everything that ails you!
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