Hugs Are A Key Aspect Of Staying Healthy

Hugs Are A Key Aspect Of Staying Healthy

The simple hug apparently can be far more than a way to show affection as recently published research shows that hugs are a key aspect of staying healthy or even recovering from the common cold.

Research carried out by Carnegie Mellon University has shown that social connections have a pretty big role in a person’s general health. According to researchers, people who are constantly in conflict with others during social interaction have a higher risk of contracting viruses than people who have less stress associated with their social life.

The project undertaken by Carnegie Mellon University aimed to show a link between a person’s positive social interactions and a reduction in physical illness, anxiety and depression.

The study lasted 2 weeks and included 400 participants. Each participant was asked to fill out a unique questionnaire to determine their stress level and social relationships. They would also receive daily phone calls where they were asked if they received a hug that day or if they had experienced any conflicts or similar stressful situations. They were also intentionally infected with the common cold virus and quarantined for a week of careful observation.

The study showed that people who had more support and hugs or similar interactions had less severe symptoms than people who didn’t have the same support or stress-free social life.

Posted by George Daniels on Friday December 26 2014, 7:54 AM EST. Ref: Utah Peoples Post. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0