The sentimental and psychological power of hugs; perhaps we have never valued enough the beneficial effect of the act of embracing. A gesture that reduces it stress, protects the heart, banishes fears and anxieties. The hug is a gesture as simple as it is important and, on world hug day, it is worth dwelling on its many benefits.
The hugs
When a friend or family member is dealing with something painful or unpleasant in their life, we don't think twice about embracing it. This is the first message that comes from the Healthline website, which cites the results of a study by the University of California at Los Angeles published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. According to this study, give support to another person through a hug it can reduce stress or discomfort related to painful medical treatments for example. The benefits are both for those being comforted and for those offering comfort.
Hugging, then, is good for the heart. Holding hands and giving each other a hug reduces blood pressure and heart rate, according to a study published in the journal Behavioral Medicine. Hugs can make us happier by releasing a chemical called oxytocin associated with happiness and reducing the hormone stress norepinephrine. Furthermore, hugging each other drives away fears and anxieties. According to a study published in Psychological Science, touching and then a hug can reduce anxiety in people with low self-esteem. Furthermore, according to research published in the journal Holistic Nursing Practice and carried out on people with fibromyalgia, hugging can reduce pain.
Hugging each other to give and receive well-being
In light of all this, we wonder how many hugs a day do we need for feel good physically and psychologically. The answer is “as many as possible if we want to reap a lot of positive effects”. How long should a hug last to be effective? At least twenty seconds, this is the time necessary to stimulate the production of oxytocin and obtain the desired benefits.
