What is National Cuddle Up Day?
National Cuddle Up Day, which falls on January 6th, encourages us to snuggle up with someone for the health benefits and more.
On National Cuddle Up Day, January is typically one of the year's coldest days, so what better way to stay warm and reap the health benefits of cuddling? Cuddling with a human or canine, or another species of dog can be chilly on a three-dog night (a night so cold it takes three dogs to cuddle up with to remain warm) or just marginally chilly, there are several benefits to cuddling with a human or canine, as well as another pet.
Cuddling produces oxytocin. This hormone alone has major health benefits. Oxytocin reduces pain by giving us warm and fuzzy feelings. So, if the cold has made those muscles and joints ache, cuddling can help eliminate those aches and pains.
Oxytocin also helps prevent heart disease, lowers blood pressure, stress, and anxiety. Of course, insurance companies would certainly cover cuddling if it weren't free, but it isn't free since it's such a significant health benefit!
More than just e-mails, texts, or chats, communication is more than just e-mails, emails, or chats. Physical contact also conveys confidence, commitment, security, and reassurance. This refers both human-to-human and human-to-pet communication, as well as human-to-pet interaction; cuddling refers to all of these aspects that are essential to a healthy relationship.
