Hugs beat stress and infection

It may sound strange, but hugs can protect stressed individuals from getting sick, according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University who say hugging represents a close relationship and a source of social support.

"We know that people experiencing ongoing conflicts with others are less able to fight off cold viruses," says lead study author Sheldon Cohen. "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."