The University of North Carolina conducted a study with 59 women and found some interesting results. After a short series of questions and general chatting about their partner, some women ended each session with a 20-second hug. The women who received a hug from their partners had lower blood pressure and heart rates during stressful sections of testing. The researchers think that oxytocin (that we mentioned earlier) might be the cause for their better heart health.Scientists say that giving another person support through touch can reduce the stress of the person being comforted. It can even reduce the stress of the person doing the comforting.In one studyTrusted Source of twenty heterosexual couples, men were given unpleasant electric shocks. During the shocks, each woman held the arm of her partner.Researchers found that the parts of each woman’s brain associated with stress showed reduced activity while those parts associated with the rewards of maternal behavior showed more activity. When we hug someone to comfort them, these parts of our brain may show a similar response.Simply through the act of hugging, our brains can produce soothing chemicals that help us feel more safe and less threatened throughout the day. there’s nothing like a hug when you’re feeling blue. So the next time you’re going in for a handshake, try "HUGGIES" and see how you feel afterward!