Cuddles boost faulty hearts

CUDDLES could help to mend the damage caused by heart attacks. Researchers from Michigan State University found the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin. released during times of physical intimacy such as cuddling, kissing or sex, can stimulate the growth of new, healthy heart cells.

Initial studies in zebrafish, which have the remarkable ability to regrow damaged heart tissue, found they experience a 20-fold increase in oxytocin following a heart injury which stimulates the growth of specialised cells that migrate to the heart. Exposing human heart tissue to high levels of oxytocin showed a similar effect.