What's Love got to do with it?

As we find ourselves in the midst of the red roses and glitzy heart-shaped chocolates of Valentine's month, the old Tina Turner song comes to mind  "What's love got to do with it? What's love but a second -hand emotion? Regarding your health and vitality, love's got everything to do with it! Love has become one of the hot areas of scientific research. "I am not aware of any other factor in medicine, that has as great an impact on our quality of life and the incidence of illness than the healing power of love and intimacy," emphasizes  cardiologist Dr Dean Ornish, Professor of Medicine at the University of California,San Francisco and author of 'Love and Survival'.

It seems that the feelings of attraction and 'falling in love' may indeed be finely tuned by  both the brain and the body’s biochemistry. Recent  research conducted by neuroscientists  Bartels and Zeki at the University of London demonstrate that certain hotspots in the brain light up on seeing a loved one. The four hot spots that light up, all play a role in regulating  the brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine which elicit a pleasure effect on the brain.

And what about sex? Well, researchers have revealed how a regular sex life is good for you too. It helps ward off illness by boosting the immune system. Doctors have discovered that the level of NK ( natural killer) cells and antibodies that fight infection is much higher in couples who make love regularly. Regular love makers are likely to experience far fewer colds, viruses and flu. Sex too is also a great stress-buster. A frequent outpouring of the 'feel-good' factors including endorphins lifts depression, blunts anxiety and leaves you with a deep sense of wellbeing. Lovemaking is good for fitness too. A typical bout of lovemaking is equivalent to sprinting 200 meters. It is demanding on the body, raising your blood pressure,  pulse and breathing rate. Every part of your body plays some role in the sexual act.

So what do we yearn for when all the chocolates are gone and the roses have wilted?  We want the love to last. The big question regarding the 'chemicals as love theory' is why some partnerships survive long after the romance is over.This may be due to yet another chemical. Oxytocin, (the hormone central in the physiology of childbirth) a much mellower molecule  than serotonin and dopamine,  seems to be responsible for a sustained sense of warmth and caring. Tactile warmth and connection; such as when you embrace your child, when you hug a friend or  just holding your partner’s hand all trigger the release of oxytocin.  It is believed that oxytocin is what keeps the embers glowing.  So remember this Valentines that the correct mix of passion, commitment, communication and  humour will keep  fueling the fire of your love as well as your  internal neurobiology and chemistry.