Love can keep your heart healthy

Women in happy marriages are much less likely to have a heart attack than those in high-stress relationships, research at the University of Pittsburgh, in the US, found.

And men who have sex two or more times a week halve¹ their risk of a cardiac arrest, a study at Bristol University found.

Hugs lower your blood pressure while making love is a great cardiac workout .

It temporarily raises blood pressure and gives the arteries² and veins³ a workout, keeping them strong and flexible.

Cathy Ross, a specialist nurse with the British Heart Foundation, says: "Sex can provide the same benefits as walking up several flights of stairs."

And it's a lot more fun which means we're more likely to stick with the exercise regime.

We burn on average 200 calories when we have sex. But trying out different positions can increase the burn and fun.

HUGS also help. Doctors at the University of North Carolina, in America, found cuddles can lower blood pressure and boost levels of the relaxing feelgood hormone⁴ oxytocin.

Kissing is also recommended for gums and teeth because it increases production of saliva⁵, which helps kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

In the long term this can even help to head off a heart attack because gum disease can increase the risk of heart attacks.