We are just hours away from Valentine’s Day, a day associated with love, affection, flowers, candy and gifts. However, this day can also be associated with pain, loneliness, grief and other feelings of anxiety and even depression. Unfortunately, a day that Americans took hold of to spread love to their partners, friends and family, can also become one that others hold tightly to as a time to experience pain or uncontrollably just feel bad on. Perhaps we would do well to remember it’s not that serious of a day! In fact, if we can get back to the roots of finding joy, little ways or sharing love to ourselves or others, it’s extremely beneficial to our own health and literally our hearts!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Million Hearts, a national effort to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. by 2027, support looking for love and letting it bring you to greater health! Here are some ways to take your Valentine’s Day to the next level and increase your heart health at the same time!
Physical touch is considered one of the “7 Givens,” of human needs. Research shows that being touched or touching someone can activate areas of the brain that control empathy, emotions, and certain social behaviors. Health experts at the CDC believe that touch helps communicate a sense of connection and strengthen a positive bond and emotions that enhance our relationships with not only our romantic partners but also family, friends and others. The research shows that having positive physical interaction with others can contribute to and may even form a better foundation for our physical health.
How can human touch, such as a simple hug, impact our health? Physical touch welcomes a chemical release in the body of “oxytocin,” a chemical romance if you will. This feel-good hormone allows the body to naturally relax and feel calmer. Research suggests that this chemical reaction has the ability to not only make us feel more loved, but it can also lower blood pressure and reduce the stress hormone of cortisol too. Oxytocin has been shown to help reduce inflammation in heart tissue and may possibly repair cells in the heart muscle! This is amazing news! You may be one hug or snuggle away from a healthier heart!
In addition, sharing love, affection and even thinking about those we love, is revealing itself to be a pain reliever. Dr. Sean Mackey, chief of pain management at Stanford University, said, “maybe prescribing a little passion in one’s relationship can go a long way toward helping with one’s chronic pain.” His study found that even those looking at their loved ones produced pain relief. This matters because chronic pain can have harmful effects on our heart. Sudden surges of pain release adrenalin, a hormone that increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Knowing now that Valentine’s Day is actually good fun and it is tomorrow, what can we do?
- Focus on Self-Love: Do something for you on Valentine’s Day! Think self-care and self-love regardless of your relationship status. This can be a great meal, a longer warm shower, anything – something intentional for you!
- Celebrate Friendships: Friendships are gifts! Celebrate someone else on Valentine’s Day in a platonic way. It can be as simple as a Happy Valentine’s Day note in your mailbox for the mail person of texting your friends! Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to pause and celebrate friendships, care givers, teachers and even random strangers around you too!
- Acts of Kindness: A Valetine’s Day act of kindness towards others as a way to spread positivity and connection can go a long way! Especially if you know someone who may feel forgotten or unseen, this is the day! Drop them a treat, send a text, bring them a flower, anything! This is a chance to help them heal their hearts and you will feel yours getting healthier too!
Reframing how we view Valentine’s Day, from an exclusive celebration centered around romantic relationships to an inclusive day celebrating all forms of love—we can create an environment that fosters joy rather than distress. We can welcome in more fun, love and connection and feel the benefits in our own lives and our own hearts, literally! At the end of the day, few things matter more than investing time in our health and relationships and Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of that! Let this holiday be a reminder to make this a lasting time of intentionally engaging, appreciating, connecting and offering affection to one another and even yourself. Because the facts are in, a happy heart, is a healthy heart!