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Female and male athletes have more in common than just the desire to compete: Both produce more testosterone in the heat of competition, making greater amounts of the hormone when they win.

The preliminary analyses suggest that cortisol levels, which normally are elevated under stressful situations, were significantly lower in the oxytocin-treated couples than in the control group, providing evidence that oxytocin helps keep stress in check during conflict. Being able to curb such stress, which can be persistent in nature, could have long-term health benefits as well.

In an acute situation, the brain helps to protect us from threat by sending orders to the adrenal glands to release hormones such as cortisol, which mobilize bodily reserves to help meet the challenge. Systems like blood pressure and blood sugar are geared up, while other processes are temporarily shut down.

It’s an efficient and effective approach for dealing with the occasional tense situation, like running for the bus or meeting your tax deadline, but it takes a toll on our bodies just the same. Even more exhaustive is chronic stress. Over prolonged periods, high levels of cortisol associated with chronic stress can overwhelm the body.