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According to research by psychologist Dr. Sheldon Cohen, hugs can actually protect our health and improve our immune system.

“We know that people experiencing ongoing conflicts with others are less able to fight off cold viruses. 

”We also know that people who report having social support are partly protected from the effects of stress on psychological states, such as depression and anxiety,” the study’s lead author, psychologist Dr. Sheldon Cohen, said in a statement. “We tested whether perceptions of social support are equally effective in protecting us from stress-induced susceptibility to infection and also whether receiving hugs might partially account for those feelings of support and themselves protect a person against infection.”

I remember a story I read about two twin baby girls. When they were born on Oct. 17, 1995, they were premature by 12 weeks and were put in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Medical Center in Central Massachusetts in Worcester.

As a standard practice of the hospital, the babies were placed into separate incubators in order to reduce the risk of infection. One baby, Kyrie, was much larger than her sister Brielle, who only weighed two pounds at her birth. The larger baby, Kyrie, slept well and was healthily gaining weight, but her smaller sister, Brielle, was having trouble breathing and had low levels of oxygen in her blood, as well as low weight gain and problems with her heart rate.

Everyone was deeply concerned, especially a particular nurse named Gayle Kasparian, who was trying everything that she could think of to help Brielle. Then, on Nov. 12th, Brielle had an emergency health situation. She started gasping for air and started turning a gray-blue color. Then she got hiccups, and her heart rate went way up. Everyone was so afraid Brielle would not survive.

In desperation, nurse Kasparian remembered a common procedure a fellow colleague had mentioned to her once that was common practice in most of Europe, but was not done here in this country.

It was the practice of placing “newborn baby multiple births” in beds together. They called it double bedding. Even though she could not ask permission from her manager, since she was away and was not able to reached, she asked the parents for their permission to put the girls together in one bed to see if it would help. They agreed. So, nurse Gayle broke the rules and placed the larger baby with her smaller baby sister, now in extreme danger of dying.

The moment they were placed together in the bed, Brielle immediately snuggled up to her sister and within minutes, Brielle’s readings for her blood and oxygen levels were better than they had been since her birth. Kyrie gently put her arm around Brielle. It was such a beautiful hug.

In the article I read, they called it a rescuing hug. It was a very powerful hug. Being together had quite literally saved Brielle’s life. Soon after that, the parents were able to take the girls home, because they both were thriving.

Nurse Gayle did not get in trouble. In fact, the practice of double bedding multiple births is now standard practice at the hospital. Sometimes, breaking the rules can lead to changes in old antiquated practices. It takes courage and a strong heart to do what you believe in.

So, as we lead our busy lives, remember that our connectedness and our ability to love are so precious, that we can literally save another’s life by just being there for them.

So, share those wonderful hugs with your loved ones.

Take the time to truly listen, be present and reach out with the most precious gift you can give.
That is the precious gift of you.

You may never know how much of an impact your hug and/or your smile might have on another life, but it is something you can give every day without spending a penny.

I am mentally sending hugs to you all!

Much love, and have a joyful and loving month of February.

Love, Nancy

copyright@nancyaddison2017

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast, blog, article, video is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Nancy Addison CHC. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this blog, audio podcast, article, video  for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

The post The Power of a Hug! appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

As a standard practice of the hospital, the babies were placed into separate incubators in order to reduce the risk of infection.  One baby, Kyrie, was much larger than her sister Brielle, who only weighed two pounds at her birth.

Kyrie slept well and was healthily gaining weight, but her smaller sister Brielle, was having trouble breathing and had low levels of oxygen in her blood.  She also had low weight gain and problems with her heart rate.  Everyone was deeply concerned, especially a particular nurse named Gayle Kasparian, who was trying everything she could think of to help Brielle.

On November 12th, Brielle had an emergency health situation. She started gasping for air and turning a gray-blue color.  She got the hiccups and her heart rate went way up.  Everyone was afraid Brielle would not survive.

In desperation, Nurse Kasparian remembered a common procedure that a fellow colleague had mentioned to her once.  It was common practice in most of Europe, but was not done in this country.  It was the practice of placing newborn multiple-birth babies in the same bed together. They called it double-bedding.

She was not able to ask permission from her manager, because she was away and unable to be reached, so she asked the parents’ permission to put the girls together in one bed, to see if it would help. They agreed.  Nurse Kasparian broke the rules and placed the larger baby in the same crib with her smaller baby sister, who was now in extreme danger of dying.

The moment they were together, Brielle immediately snuggled up to her sister and within minutes, Brielle’s readings for her blood and oxygen were better than they had been since her birth.  Kyrie gently put her arm around Brielle.  It was such a beautiful hug.

In the article I read, they called it a rescuing hug.  It was a very powerful hug. Being together had quite literally saved Brielle’s life. It wasn’t much later that the parents were able to take both girls home, because they were both thriving.

Nurse Kasparian did not get in trouble.  In fact, the practice of double-bedding multiple births is now a standard practice at the hospital.  Sometimes, breaking the rules can lead to changes in old antiquated practices.  It takes courage and a strong heart to do what you believe in.

So, as we lead our busy lives, we need to remember to stay connected, and to be loving and caring and kind to others.  You can literally save another’s life, just by being there for them.

Hug your loved ones, listen to what they have to say, and reach out with the most precious gift you can give, the gift of you.

You may never know how much of an impact you might have on another’s life, but remember, ”To the world you may just be someone, but to someone you may be the whole world”.

Have a joyful and loving February.

I am sending a hug to each and every one of you.

Love, Nancy
xxoo

By Nancy Addison CHC, AADP
copyright@nancyaddison2015

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I love to hear what you think!

The post The Importance Of Physical Closeness And Love appeared first on Organic Healthy Life - Nancy Addison - Nutrition.

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