How Love Keeps The Heart Strong

5 min readFeb 4, 2023

By: April Sui, Western University

No matter how you choose to draw it, the heart has long represented love and kindness for people across various times and cultures. Modern science tells us that love is in the brain, but does that mean that warm, fuzzy feeling we feel for those we’re close to has nothing to do with that rhythmic organ in our chests?

To start off our new series surrounding Heart Health Month this February, this weeks blog embarks on a journey to discover just what love does to the heart. We explore why we call the loss of love and emotional turmoil as heartbreak. Most importantly, we see how spending time with our dear ones and how loving people (ourselves included) can help keep your heart in good health.

Heartstrong

Science has shown that hormones in our body which are associated feelings of love have benefits for cardiovascular health. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide, is secreted by the pituitary gland in response to experiences of intimacy such as in hugging, kissing. While it is made by the brain, this hormone has shown evidence of being effective in protection and treatment of heart health. Oxytocin has been shown to play a role in healing scar tissue and inflammation of the heart, as well as dilating blood vessels, which keeps blood pressure lower and makes less work for the heart.

Furthermore, simply spending time with loved ones may have a positive cardiovascular effect. In a study of 60 couples, it was found that blood pressure was lower while participants were interacting socially with their significant other, in comparison to when they were interacting with other people or were alone. What may come as a surprise is that this result occurred even for couples who felt there relationship was less than perfect.

Supporting and socializing with family, friends and organizations has also been shown to have heart-boosting effects by strengthening the immune system and lowering risks of inflammation.

Heartbreaker

While fulfilling and supportive relationships can keep our heart strong, the opposite effect may manifest concerning unhappiness in relationships and employment.

Depression has been linked to greater risk of vascular inflammation and blood clotting, of which clotting in vessels feeding the heart are responsible for most cases of cardiac arrest.

What may come as a surprise to some is the severe emotional distress can cause physical trauma to the heart; a legitimate heartbreak. In broken heart syndrome, the shape of the heart undergoes change in response to acute emotional disruption, such as following a breakup with a romantic partner of the death of a loved one.

This condition was first described in Japan, 1990. The broken heart resembles closely a Japanese octopus trap (takotsubo), being coined by doctors as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Heartful

“If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it that, surfeiting,”

Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 1

Duke Orsino does go on to make a “hart” pun following this renowned quote from Shakespeare’s romance-comedy Twelfth Night, but our readers may be more interested rather in the following exploration regarding food of the heart.

While there is research to support the cardiovascular benefits of music, the power of a nutritious diet supplied with delectable aliments has long been essential to maintaining a strong heart. And what better way to love yourself than leading an active lifestyle and feeding yourself well?

Be sure to indulge in the following to improve heart health:

Fatty fish — Salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna et cetera. Omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish may have a protective role in the risk of developing heart disease.
Dark chocolate — rich in antioxidants like flavonoids. Moderated consumption (less than 6 servings/week) may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Also contains phenylethylamine, which stimulates the release of oxytocin.
Berries — Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries et cetera. Rich in antioxidants which protect against the oxidative stress and inflammation. May improve function of cells in blood vessels.
Green tea — full of polyphenols and catechins, which act as antioxidants and may prevent cell damage and reduced inflammation. Benefits in improved insulin sensitivity, reduced blood pressure, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (associated with blood vessel clotting) and total cholesterol

So it turns out some (dark) chocolate and strawberries this St. Valentine’s day may be a wise idea.

Feed your heart, feed your love.

From the very bottom of our myocardiocytes, the OYMS creators team thanks you for reading this week’s blog. Please look forward to the upcoming pieces in our Heart Health Month series!

XOXO, April ❤

About the author: April Sui is a third-year student in Medical Sciences at Western University in London, Ontario. She’s currently working with Hashtag Health Medical Podcast (based at UWO) and the International Predental Student Alliance. Bookworm, origami fanatic and French tutor, you can find her on LinkedIn or Facebook.