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The Physical & Emotional
Ways Love Affects the Body
Love is at the forefront of
couples’ minds during the
month of February, thanks in
large part Valentine’s Day,
but also just falling in love,
weddings, anniversaries all
bring out the emotion of
love. Love can have a dramatic
impact on the human body, and chemicals play a larger
role than many may know.
For centuries, poets have espoused the virtues of love while
songwriters often look to love and heartache as their subject
matter. It’s easy to overlook that the heart and the brain are
parts of the body when considering the effects of being in love.
While a large part of the reactions that occur are emotional
in nature, being in love also has a profound physical effect on
the body. Scientists have studied chemicals that flood the brain
when love is in the air, noting that some can affect personal
attachment, pleasure and well-being. So there are reasons why
pulses race and palms sweat when people are in love. Here are
some chemical players in the love equation.
Dopamine: The medical resource Health says dopamine is the
brain’s pleasure chemical and it is released during pleasurable
activities. When one falls in love, he or she feels elated and energetic
because of the release of dopamine. Biological anthropologists
say that the release of dopamine can lead to intense
focus on the object of one’s desire and influence goal-oriented
behavior.
Adrenaline & Norepinephrine: These chemical messengers
cause anxiety to rise and the fight or flight response to kick in.
These substances also contribute to a racing heart and sweaty
hands. Butterflies in the stomach and nervousness are subtle
clues that there is genuine attraction for a person.
Oxytocin: Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone,” according
to University of Birmingham researchers. Oxytocin, researchers
found, produces some of the same symptoms of indulging in
alcohol. These include feeling less inhibited, an increased willingness
to take risks and calmness. Oxytocin also helps couples
bond by promoting intimacy, according to research associates
at Rutgers University.
Testosterone: Testosterone is largely considered a male hormone,
but it is present in females as well. Testosterone rises
during romantic love, and it can increase sexual desire in a
partner. Health also states that testosterone may be present in
male saliva and transferred to a partner through kissing, further
revving up intimate feelings.
Pheromones: Although they are only believed, and not proven,
to play a part in romantic attraction, pheromones do garner
significant attention. Some theorize that these chemical
messengers can change body chemistry so that those in love
can actually “smell” their romantic partners. It may help explain
why women may wear their partner’s shirt to bed or a man may
hold on to a scarf or a pillow his lover has used.
Feb/Mar 2018 Community Magazine 15
/www.ghppc.org