Touch starvation and heart health during a global pandemic

American author and therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” Amidst a global pandemic, hugs have become a part of the distant past as we embrace a world where social interactions are six feet apart. As social distancing becomes the new norm, it is time to think about the long-term impacts of lacking physical touch and connection.

Experiencing little to no touch from others, sometimes called “touch starvation,” can have tangible impacts on heart health. In particular, lacking physical contact has been linked to an increase in overall stress levels measured based on levels of the hormone cortisol (often referred to as the stress hormone). When the body secretes increased amounts of cortisol, both heart rate and blood pressure can be negatively affected.

A study conducted in 2013 by Sumioka et al. tested the difference in cortisol levels following communication both with and without physical contact. They discovered that participants who had 15-minute conversations with a huggable device (a human-shaped cushion) had lower cortisol levels, in both blood and saliva samples, than individuals who had a 15-minute conversation on the phone. This study emphasized the benefits of touch, even if it came from a human-like object, as opposed to no touch at all.

Not being able to connect with others physically is not the end of the world for our heart health, but it is not something that should be brushed aside. It is critical that we keep goals of virtual connection and communication in mind in our day to day lives.

Another important hormone that is impacted by touch is oxytocin. Oxytocin is often referred to as the “cuddle” or “love” hormone. This is because oxytocin levels fluctuate with human contact. A study conducted in 2005 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill observed how frequent physical contact was linked to oxytocin levels. In this study, women’s oxytocin levels were measured before and after either experiencing physical touch (hugs) with their partner or not. The study found that higher oxytocin levels were related to how frequently their partner hugged them — the more hugs, the higher the oxytocin levels and the lower the baseline blood pressure. So why is this important?

Oxytocin plays an important role in cardiovascular regulation; it lowers blood pressure and heart rate in addition to playing a role in anti-inflammation. Gutkowska et al. investigated the role of oxytocin in cardiovascular regulation in 2014 by studying the effects of in vivo oxytocin during heart attacks in rats. They discovered that oxytocin can help fight inflammation, heal injured cardiac tissue, and lower heart rate by stimulating the release of atrial natriuretic peptide. However, it is important to note that while these results were significant, they have only been tested in rat cardiovascular systems.

In quarantine, it is important to find things, such as a pet, a weighted blanket, a human pillow, or a body pillow that can, if only to a small degree, provide the touch we need. Even if it is not a fellow human, there is potential that this physical feeling can decrease cortisol levels. Decreasing the amount of stress hormone in your body has important physiological consequences: lowering blood pressure and lowering heart rate. These are integral components of overall heart health.

In a time where we must remain six feet apart and socially distance, it is imperative to pay attention to our stress and blood pressure levels. Without the oxytocin boost from cuddling or the reduction in cortisol levels offered by contact with one another, we should instead focus on getting connected in ways that we can. Over Zoom or FaceTime, by attending a virtual dance party, getting a pet, or even a weighted blanket. Not being able to connect with others physically is not the end of the world for our heart health, but it is not something that should be brushed aside. It is critical that we keep goals of virtual connection and communication in mind in our day to day lives.

Scientific Reports (2013). DOI: 10.1038/srep03034

Biological Psychology (2005). DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2004.11.002

Braz J Med Biol Res. (2014). DOI: 10.1590/1414-431X20133309