It is the first Sunday of August aka Friendship Day. A day when you celebrate the people who stood beside you through thick and thin. Having friends and a good social circle has more advantages than having people to party with or go on a trip with. While family related by blood has a very important role to play in life, having friends, a family that is not related by blood is a feeling of joy that is beyond explanation by words. However, it is the right kind of people you need in your life to call friends. The ones who bring out the best in you.

Friends are a great emotional support and great to have fun with bust did you know that friendship has a lot of health benefits? Yes! There are a lot of health benefits, both physical and psychological of having friends that you must know of:

  • Boost your happiness and reduce your stress: Having friends decreases the cortisol levels that are the levels of stress hormones released in your body and help you become happier and more satisfied with your life.

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  • Improve your self-confidence and self-worth: If you are suffering from a low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence, having a great social circle helps a lot.

  • Help you overcome PTSD: A great friend-circle can help you overcome bigger emotional traumas in your life. Friends help manage PTSD and help you come out of the traumatic stress.

  • Longevity: People having a great social life and a strong friend circle are likely to live longer than people who are lonely. Friendship improves your overall health and makes you happier.

    Lowers Dementia Risk: Having friends lowers the risk of dementia according to a study. The study found that over 13 per cent of who felt lonely developed dementia later in life.

  • Cardiovascular health: A study suggests that people with less or no emotional and social support are more at a risk of cardiovascular health issues and low immunity.

  • Lowered stress: People with a great social circle and good emotional support have lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that can cause further health issues.

  • Lowered risk of drug abuse: The idea is not to be lonely as loneliness triggers various health problems. We are a social animal and need communication to survive, therefore loneliness can kill. Various research has it that people who are lonely are more at a risk of drug abuse at a younger age that people who have a good social circle.

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  • Blood Pressure Risk:  People who are lonely and get older are usually at a higher risk of blood pressure, anxiousness and poor sleep quality, says a research as they have a higher level of stress hormone in their blood.

  • Encourage healthy habits: Friends help you develop healthy habits and reach your goals sooner. For example, surrounding yourself with friends that are keen on eating healthy, encourages you to eat healthy as well.

However, if you have fewer friends are an introvert there is nothing to worry about either. There is no pressure that you another human being to make you happy and lower stress hormones. You must remember to love yourself first and that you are your own best friend. Happy Friendship day to you!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 05, 2018 11:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).