Hugs for Health

JANA FAGOTII MANAGING EDITOR JAF722@CABRINI.EDU

CAITLIN LA:-.IGLEY CEL 722@CABRINI. EDU STAFF WRITER

Junior Jaclyn McGuckin has been running for the cross country team for the past three years. She ran her freshman year, making second team All Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, but then took off her sophomore year because she had mononucleosis. The team this year only has three girls, so it technically cannot qualify as a team in the races, because they need five girls to run as a team, but the girls can run for Cabrini individually. When a runner runs for a school individually, if they place they win a trophy, but as a team, if they place they can win points for Cabrini and qualify in the PAC division. She said that the three girls are solid runners, but having five girls, they could then start to earn points for Cabrini. Their goal this season is to "build up to some good wins." McGuckin's goal this season is "to get back into the swing of things." This year's season started on Saturday, Aug. 30. McGuckin's high school years were spent on the track as well. She found cross country when she was in eigth grade and fell in love with it and has been running ever since. Her freshman year she made second team All Catholic. She upped her performance sophomore year making first team All

Catholic. She had to take a year off for "personal reason's" but came back her senior year and made second team All Catholic.

Even though McGuckin has been running for around eight years, she is still very excited about running for Cabrini. She is anxious to get some more girls for the team. She has said that the team is "struggling to find some more girls." McGuckin is still optimistic about the season but would like it better if they had more g.ids and if they could run as a team for Cabrini instead of individually.

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Four hugs a day are necessary for survival; eight are good for maintenance and 12 for growth. Ten minutes of handholding with a romantic partner can dramatically reduce a high stress level.

In a study done by Virginia Stir, a therapist, social worker and author, she recommended that four hugs are a necessity in everyone's life. "The pores are places for messages of love on the human body and physical contact is very important," Stir said.

Dr. M. L. Sicoli, psychology professor, said that Stir's idea "makes a lot of sense." Positive thoughts are known to change blood chemistry," Sicoli said.

Another study, by Tiffany Field of the Touch Research Institute, determined that I0 minutes of handholding could relieve stress. Field divided the participating couples into two groups. Each group was asked to watch a pleasant l 0 minute video and explain every feeling they felt during the video including, stress, anxiety and suspense.

The couples in Group A were able to hold hands during the video and then asked to hug 10 seconds afterward. Couples in Group B were able to watch the movie with their partner but they were unable to touch during or after the video. Group B was found to have a high heart rate and high blood pressure, while Group A remained relaxed. "Field's research shows touch lowers output of cortisol, a stress hormone. When cortisol dips, there's a surge of two 'feel good' brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine," according to Marilyn Elias of USA Today.

- According to Sicoli, a lot of people are dealing with major depression or loss and a hug provides them with something positive. "There's strong evidence that shows that if you have a strong social support S)'stem, you 're better off."