Love can make you live longer. Yes! That feeling when your crush holds your hand can actually contribute to longevity. Dr Mark Hyman, an American physician and author, recently took to the internet to underscore that love—familial, platonic or romantic—can contribute to a longer life. Love is not just emotional, it is also biological. When you are in love or part of a supportive community, your body's repair genes can get activated and inflammation reduced. All this contributes to better health and a longer lifespan.A Warm Hug Can Prevent Heart AttackWhen you feel loved or have a strong connection with someone, your brain releases certain neurotransmitters like oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. Now, these chemicals regulate a range of functions in your body. Oxytocin, for instance, plays a vital role in blood pressure and stress management. Also known as love hormone, it is stored and released by the Pituitary gland and helps in lowering stress. Empirical evidence indicates that oxytocin reduces the level of cortisol in saliva. This biological response is why a warm hug or holding hands can have such a calming impact. Positive social interactions can also boost the production of serotonin. It is this "happy hormone "that can significantly bolster a person's mood.What Does Expert Say?Dr Rahul L Khemani, a Mumbai Member of doctube, confirmed the same, emphasising, "When you're in love, your brain releases neurotransmitters such as Dopamine and Serotonin and hormones such as Oxytocin. Oxytocin helps in reducing blood pressure which in turn is beneficial for the Heart. Dopamine and Serotonin are associated with happiness and the sense of calmness." "Psychologically love is an important factor in a positive well-being and gives a deeper meaning to life," he added. Health Benefits Of LoveSo by now, we have understood that being in love boosts health. Let's delve deeper into it. Studies have long indicated that those in healthy romantic relationships suffer from less physical illness. The cocktail of hormones released while in love, has a huge impact on your cardiovascular system and shields the heart from a varitey of diseases. Strong social support, with friends and family, works in the same way. Love is also good for your mental health. Individuals with strong social connections tend to live long. Loneliness or perceived loneliness, is a leading cause of death in the world. Stress and depression, can not only trigger suicidal behaviour but also hamper normal functioning of the body. Research has shown that loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Therefore, it is time to listen to the one piece of advice that longevity expert Dan Buettner gave, "live in communities, fall in love, support each other if you want to live longer."What Happens When Love Turns Into Obsession?While love is a great thing, there are times when it turns lethal to a person's health and well-being. Obsessive love disorder (OLD) involves fixating on one person. Other symptoms include low self-esteem and extreme jealousy. While no separate medical or psychological classification exists for OLD, it can often accompany other types of mental health illnesses. For instance, people suffering from this condition do not take rejection easily and therefore, indulge in destructive behaviour.Here's How To Identify OLDan overwhelming attraction to one personobsessive thoughts about the personfeeling the need to “protect” the person you’re in love withpossessive thoughts and actionsextreme jealousy over other interpersonal interactionslow self-esteem