Love means less stress

gzlaser

A STUDY has found that close relationships can help protect heart attack survivors against future problems.

Survivors without someone close are twice as likely to suffer from major heart problems within a year of their first attack, according to a study from Britain's Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Francis Creed, a professor of psychological medicine and co-author of the study, said it didn't seem to matter if the relationships were with partners and lovers or friends.

The fact of having at least one close intimate relationship seems to be the important factor,\" Creed said.

It's possible that people close to the heart attack patients may encourage them to take better care of themselves, he said.

\"We also know that those with a close friend produce fewer hormones in reacting to stress. This may be particularly important after a heart attack when the heart is particularly easy to damage by an increase in stress hormones.\"