The 9 little-known benefits of touch on human health

Touch is a fundamental part of humanity, but it is often taken for granted in our everyday lives. But the world of skin science shows that this powerful sense can do more than make us feel good; it can also improve physical and psychological health. From petting to massage, researchers have explored the potential therapeutic benefits of touch, whether it’s easing pain, promoting relaxation or restoring happiness. In this article, we’ll look at how touch affects us emotionally and physiologically, exploring its many potential healing powers.

1. Touch has been proven to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

When the body is affected, hormones such as oxytocin, endorphins and serotonin are released, promoting feelings of well-being and reducing cortisol levels. It can have a calming effect on the mind and body, allowing a person to feel more content and relaxed. Research has also shown that touch can help improve the mood of people with depression by helping to reduce anxiety. In some cases, just holding another person’s hand can be enough to lift your spirits significantly.

2. Another benefit of touch is its ability to relieve physical pain.

Massage therapy has been used for centuries as an effective tool for relieving various types of pain, including chronic muscle tension, headaches, and arthritis-related joint pain. Additionally, research has indicated that even light brushstrokes of the skin can help activate areas of the brain associated with alleviating pain perception and discomfort associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia or fatigue syndrome. chronic.

3. Touch helps improve the quality of sleep by giving the body a sense of security and comfort.

A massage before bed can release endorphins which induce feelings of relaxation and tranquility before you drift off to sleep. Additionally, studies have shown that people who are hugged or hugged while sleeping tend to enter deeper states of restful sleep more quickly than those who have not received any form of sleep. physical contact before bedtime.

4. Touch promotes the development of the immune system in children.

Touch also plays an important role in immune system health by stimulating white blood cell activity in children who regularly received hugs from their parents for a long period of time, compared to those who did not receive hugs at all for this same period. This indicates that regular physical contact can actually be beneficial in bolstering a person’s natural defenses against illnesses like colds or flu viruses!

5. Touch strengthens immunity in adults as much as children.

Along the same lines, research suggests that the social-emotional support provided by touch (eg, hugs) increases levels of immunoglobulins – antibodies produced by your immune system – which help protect against infection. and diseases caused by bacteria or viruses that enter our body through mucous membranes such as the nose or mouth! An increase in these immunoglobulins means your body is better equipped to fight off any potential disease it may encounter!

6. Touch supports healthy growth in babies.

Studies have indicated that babies who are touched often develop better than those who have had minimal physical contact. This is likely because touch helps stimulate neurological connections between neurons in their brain and gives them a sense of comfort with the presence of a caregiver or loved one! Additionally, touching babies often promotes bonding between parent, caregiver, loved one and baby, which is important for long-term emotional health throughout life!

7. Touch improves cardiovascular health.

Researchers suggest that human touch can have positive effects on cardiovascular health. For example, it may reduce blood pressure levels in patients with hypertension, as massage helps release feel-good hormones such as oxytocin, which stimulates heart rate variability (i.e. i.e. that allows our hearts to beat at different speeds). Which leads to a healthier overall balance between our resting or sleeping heart rate and exercising or activating other muscles in our body!

8. Touch decreases anxiety disorders.

Research has shown that getting hugs regularly helps reduce anxiety-related symptoms. These include racing thoughts (known medically as ‘rumination’), feelings of panic and worry about things beyond our control (known medically as ‘catastrophizing’), irritability due to heightened emotional reactions and even physical symptoms such as increased heart palpitations due to increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system! All of these elements combined demonstrate the power of cuddle therapy in treating psychological issues related primarily, but not exclusively, to anxiety disorders!

9. Touch boosts cognitive functioning in older adults.

Finally, recent findings also indicate that regular touch helps boost cognitive functioning in older adults. This likely stems from improved blood flow to the neurological pathways responsible for transporting vital nutrients needed for brain development. As well as increased levels of dopamine – known as the “pleasure hormone” – which helps you stay focused longer. This underscores how essential regular touch is to maintaining healthy cognitive functioning, especially in aging populations!