Dear Patient and Friend,
Valentine’s Day is more than just an excuse to exchange greeting cards. Scientific evidence demonstrates that acts of love, kindness and support actually turn on a flow of chemicals in your brain that make you feel good.
Dr. Pat Mumby from Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine says, “Falling in love causes our body to release a flood of feel-good chemicals that trigger specific physical reactions.”
Substances like dopamine (which makes you feel euphoric) and adrenaline (which makes your heart go pitter-patter and your cheeks flush) are produced in greater quantity and dumped into the bloodstream when you feel loving feelings. Love ―lights up‖ the pleasure centers of the brain, which can be visualized with brain scans.
This helps us to understand why loving actions make us feel good. It’s a physical response – your body is designed to register such positive sensations when you do something kind, compassionate or supportive.
So participating in the Valentine’s Day festivities does more than just get you into your sweetheart’s good graces – it actually improves the chemical processing of his or her brain and body, decreasing stress and promoting optimism.
Look for ways to demonstrate your love – everyone involved will feel better because of it!
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For Your Health,
Dr. Wendy Lanser D.C.