Feelings of intense love can soothe your hurts, according to
research from Stanford University and published in the journal PloS ONE.
For the study, researchers scanned the brains of 15 deeply-in-love
(they said) college students to determine the link between love and pain. (Eight
were female and seven male.)
Researchers placed study participants through brain scanners
that tracked the body’s responses to pain caused by a heated probe placed on
the palm of the hand. Then scientists studied the brain’s pain response when participants
performed three tasks: looked at the picture of an acquaintance, viewed a
picture of their beloved, or engaged in a distracting verbal assignment (specifically,
researchers asked students to name sports that don’t use balls).
The results? Scientists found that participants who looked
at the picture of a romantic partner reduced moderate pain by about 40 percent
and relieved severe pain by 10 to 15 percent compared with viewing a picture of
an acquaintance. In addition, researchers noted that the distracting assignment
also provided similar pain-relieving effects, with one big difference. Scientists
found that pain relief from love occurred along different brain pathways
compared with relief from distraction.
So how does just looking at your beloved ease your pain? Viewing
the object of your affection causes the body’s dopamine system to interact with
other brain systems that release natural painkillers (called opioids) in the
body.
These study findings bolster the theory that patients could
get pain relief from engaging in pleasurable pastimes. “Find things to give you
pleasure in life, whether it be through the one you love, listening to great
music or reading a good book,” suggested Sean Mackey, MD, the study’s lead
study, revealing his advice to patients.
This research could also help doctors assess the condition
of patients who find pain relief without popping pills or undergoing a procedure,
Mackey said.
It’s not OK to suffer with chronic pain. Click here to read
how speaking up equals relief.
NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.
Please click OK to confirm your comment and confirm you accept our posting rules. Note your message will be reviewed by our staff before going live.
Previous Comments:
Featured Video
The TS Interview: Dennis Aviles shares his experience with kidney health To learn more about kidney health, click here.
