The surprising health benefits of kissing

Pucker up because 6th July is officially International Kissing Day! With that in mind, we’re exploring the surprising health benefits of smooching, as well as providing a heads up on some of the most common passion killers.

Top health benefits of a good kiss

A kiss on the lips is a beautiful way to connect with a loved one. And the great news is that this sign of affection and intimacy also comes with some surprising added health bonuses.

1. It can boost your mental health: Kissing triggers your brain to release a mix of feelgood hormones, including oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, and it also lowers your cortisol (the stress hormone), leaving you feeling happier and more relaxed.
2. It can boost your heart health: Kissing increases your heart rate and helps to dilate your blood vessels, increasing your blood flow and decreasing your blood pressure.
3. It can boost your immune system: The saliva exchange that occurs during a kiss exposes you to new germs, therefore strengthening your immune system.
4. It can help keep your teeth strong and healthy: The act of kissing stimulates your salivary glands and increases saliva production which is crucial in helping to prevent tooth decay and cavities.
5. It can help you burn calories: A passionate kiss uses around 30 facial muscles and can help you burn up to 26 calories per minute!
6. It can help you live longer: A German study conducted in the 1980s found that men who kissed their wives before going to work in the morning lived an average of five years longer than the men who didn’t.

Common passion killers

During a 10 second passionate kiss, up to 22,000 bacteria are exchanged! For this reason, it’s always best to avoid kissing when you or the other person is displaying any symptoms of an illness. Examples of health issues guaranteed to ruin the mood include:

1. The common cold: Upper respiratory tract infections can be passed on to others if they come into direct contact with your fluids and mucous, leading to coughing, sneezing, sore throat and tiredness.
2. Cold sores: The herpes virus is highly contagious and can be passed from person to person through kissing when blisters are present. Blisters often begin as a tingling sensation but can turn to a burning sensation and become quite painful.
3. Glandular fever: There’s a reason glandular fever is also known as ‘the kissing disease’ and that’s because the virus is spread through saliva. Symptoms of glandular fever include a high temperature, swollen glands, sore throat, rash, headache and tiredness.

Got a health concern that’s affecting your love life?

Don’t let worries about your health have a negative effect on your love life. Get checked out at YourGP ASAP. Our friendly, warm and welcoming team are here to help you feel at ease, from the moment you call us, to the moment you leave our practice. We offer short notice appointments and a fast turnaround of test results, so you can get back on track in no time.

Book an appointment at YourGP via our simple online booking system, email reception@your.gp, or call us on 0131 225 5656 and we’ll be happy to arrange an appointment at a time that suits you.