The health benefits of loving relationships
A health expert is backing up his claim that love is the best gift this Valentine's Day.
Dr. Barry Ramo, a staff cardiologist for the New Mexico Heart Institute, said research is showing love isn't just a feeling.
"A study followed 10,000 people and over a period of time they found that the risk of death was 15% lower in those individuals who had strong and healthy relationships," Ramo said. "A report from the found that a happy healthy relationship is linked to lower levels of inflammation. That's the same kind of benefit you get from a Mediterranean diet."
A loving relationship can also help those experiencing stress. Ramo explains how oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone," can be another healthy benefit to experiencing a loving relationship.
"It's released when we're under stress, and it helps reduce stress," Ramo said. "That stress is an enemy for your heart."