Why you must cuddle everyday: It is good for your heart, beats stress and is a natural painkiller

Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, Consultant Psychiatrist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, on the love hormone connection

Cuddling stimulates the release of endorphins, which help to alleviate pain. (Representational image via canva)

Written by: Dr Shaunak Ajinkya

3 min readFeb 17, 2024 11:05 PM IST First published on: Feb 17, 2024 at 03:24 PM IST

Sometimes, all you need to bust your stress is to hold somebody close with love and tenderness. That’s called cuddling and this action between two people — parent-child, partners or friends — actually has a cascade of health benefits. That’s because it triggers the release of oxytocin or the “bonding hormone” that promotes feelings of trust, intimacy and attachment.

GOOD FOR HEART HEALTH

Physical touch is known to lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol within the body. This lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reduces feelings of anxiety and promotes relaxation and well-being. Just 30 minutes of positive physical contact can reduce circulating cortisol levels by as much as 50 per cent, according to a study.

Cuddling stimulates the release of endorphins, which help to alleviate pain (whether it’s physical – headaches/menstrual cramps, or emotional – grief/loneliness) and act as a natural mood elevator, leading to feelings of happiness, contentment and pleasure. The reduced stress levels and increased ‘happy’ hormones strengthen the immune system.

Cuddling before bedtime is known to promote relaxation and reduce feelings of insecurity. This leads to improved sleep quality, helps individuals fall asleep faster and gives more restful sleep.

BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY TOOL

Our desire to cuddle isn’t purely a social one, it’s ingrained into our genes. The reason that we both desire and get satisfaction out of physical touch is that it was evolutionarily advantageous to do so. Mammals who huddled in their nests during winters felt the benefits of being close to each other because their internal body heat kept them warm. Huddling together also protected predators, while fostering social bonds within groups.

During the evolutionary process, newborn babies that are most fit and likely to survive are those that can form close attachments with their mothers, who can in turn protect and feed them (John Bowlby’s Attachment theory). Thus, cuddling acts like a behavioural cue, signalling that all is okay.

Cuddling is a form of non-verbal communication which helps partners feel more connected and understood. It fosters greater intimacy and closeness. Regular physical contact strengthens bonds leading to greater relationship satisfaction.

WHAT RESEARCH SAYS

Research has shown that oxytocin may particularly relieve stress and anxiety in social settings. Another study found that oxytocin increases sensitivity to advertising. Researchers found that after sniffing oxytocin, people were more empathetic toward public service announcements and more likely to donate to their causes. More studies have demonstrated how touch can reduce stress and reactivity to stress, as well as promote feelings of security and trust.