Pretty obvious right? But scientists are still trying to figure out exactly why.

While most things are best taken in moderation, love is something you might want to give and receive freely this Valentine’s day.

Being involved in a healthy, loving relationship is good for the heart, says Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute cardiologist Dr. Julie Damp.

It’s not known exactly why, however.

It may be that people who are married or in close, healthy relationships have lower levels of anxiety, are less likely to smoke, are more physically active and are more likely to have a well-developed social structure, Damp said in a statement this week.

Source.

Now, the interesting part (to Mari at least) is the science bits. Don’t read if you’re not a science dork.

“There is a theory that people who are in loving relationships may experience neuro-hormonal changes that have positive effects on the body, including the cardiovascular system,” she said. Certain hormone levels in the body vary depending on the level of an individual’s stress and anxiety. “This has not been proven, but the idea is that being in a relationship that is positive may have positive effects on your cardiovascular system over long periods of time.”

In fact, studies show that stress kills, and loneliness proves deadly, too. And the loss of a loved one has been shown to literally contribute to a broken heart.

Mari has heard that being in a stressful relationship (ie. one with fighting and arguments) can kill you, but Mari has never heard that being in a good relationship does more than just keep your stress levels down, but actually improves your overall cardiovascular health over time.

Would you agree with this article?