The last few years have been incredibly difficult. Many people literally didn’t know if they or their loved ones would survive. Others faced financial ruin and had trouble putting food on the table. Almost everyone faced isolation and a few developed crippling bouts of loneliness. Some fared better and even those that didn’t have begun to recover. Except for those that died at the hands of COVID-19, we really have one thing to thank for making it through these tough times: love.

People talk about love in romantic terms. But love is even more powerful than is portrayed in the movies. We all know that it makes you feel giddy and can brighten your day but it has proven to have many more benefits. Let’s take a closer look and recall the wise words of Huey Lewis:

“It’s strong and it’s sudden and it’s cruel sometimes
But it might just save your life
That’s the power of love”

The Benefits of Love

The following are scientifically proven benefits of love:

Decreases Depression

This may be the least surprising finding of the bunch. Most people can relate to the happiness that love provides. And if you are happy, you are not feeling depressed. People in stable and loving relationships seem to have an inoculation against depressive feelings. Dopamine, one of those feel-good chemicals, is especially activated when you first fall in love. If you want to be a happier person, having a positive relationship is a good start.

Lessens Anxiety

One of the great things about love is that someone always has your back. And when that happens you have less to worry about. When we are isolated, it is all on our shoulders and increases our anxiety. It is no wonder then that research has shown that romantic relationships can help reduce anxiety. Further, long-term stable love relationships appear to activate the dopamine areas of the brain and decrease those that are associated with anxiety.

Decreases Stress

Similarly, love appears to be a stress buster. Oxytocin is a hormone that is highly associated with love. When people have stable, loving partners, their oxytocin levels go up. The body also releases it during sex or physical touch. Research also shows that it lowers stress and anxiety in the long run. Interestingly, oxytocin levels don’t increase until a relationship is already well-established. In the first year, when a relationship is less stable, cortisol, a stress hormone, actually increases. Long-term stable love appears to be the key to reducing stress.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Along those same lines, a loving relationship brings calm and stability, both necessary to reduce blood pressure. Millions of Americans suffer from high blood pressure. Those people might like to know that happily married couples have the lowest blood pressure when compared to single people or unhappily married individuals. So, skip those blood pressure medications and find yourself a spouse!

Less Pain

Except for a few chosen masochists, people generally don’t want to feel much pain. Pleasure is, by far, the more desirable emotion. Luckily for those people who crave romance, romantic relationships appear to decrease feelings of pain. It is nice to think that the search for love could prevent us from reaching for that bottle of Tylenol. More pleasure, please.

Fewer Doctor Visits

As a stereotypical man, I hate going to the doctor. But, as I age, I seem to need to go more and more often. Nothing is a greater indicator of health than visits to the doctor and the hospital. The Department of health and human services conducted a study that shows that a healthy marriage decreases the length of stay of hospital visits and the need to visit a doctor. Why is this? Because people in loving relationships tend to take better care of themselves (maybe with the help of their partner). Therefore, if you are a man that hates the doctor, it is well worth working a little bit harder on your romantic relationships.

Love Heals

Not only can love prevent illness, but it can also help you heal. Yes, you read that right. Love has healing powers. In a study of blister wounds, married couples that exhibited more positive interaction patterns exhibited faster rates of healing than those that displayed more conflict. That means the more you get along with your spouse, the quicker you will heal. Moral of the story: work on your marital communication and don’t forget to be loving with each other.

Reduces death

Most people fear death. In fact, some people go to great lengths to escape death. What if I told you that there is a way to put off death? That there is a way to extend your life that you may be already doing? Would you be surprised to know that married people live longer than single people? Well, it is true. If you ever wondered if marriage is worth it or if you should continue to put effort into your marriage, then think about how it might help you stay alive. Seems worth it to me.

Love is Awesome

Are we sensing a theme? Love is good for us. And to think we can have all these benefits from something that makes us so happy is just the icing on the cake. Being in loving relationships improves both our mental and physical health. Talk about killing many birds with one stone. Now, there is nothing wrong with being single. But if you were wondering if it was worth it to take the risk of romance, the answer is definitely yes. So, try out some dating or work on strengthening your present partnership. It just might save your life.