A new study reveals a hug a day can apparently keep the doctor away.

And embraces received from loved ones and friends can help protect overall health from stress and even infection.

Researchers from the Carnegie Mellon University found evidence that hugs aren't just a social form of emotional support. Frequent receiving hugs and giving them protects people by increasing their immunity from infections often associated with stress and other illness symptoms.

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People who are exposed to more social conflicts are more prone to cold viruses, said study lead author Sheldon Cohen. People who report having strong social support also receive partial protection from the effects of psychological and physiological stress.

Researchers tested how perceptions of social support can protect people from stress induced susceptibility towards infection. They also tested if hugs and embraces can actually account for the kind of support that can stave off infection.

Hugging is a way of showing intimacy and closeness towards another person. It's an easy way to access social and emotional support.

Researchers did a survey of 404 healthy adults and observed how many hugs they received. These people were then exposed to a common cold virus in order to assess the infection and other signs of illness.

The study's findings revealed that the infected volunteers who constantly received hugs or had a greater perception of social support had less severe symptoms of the common cold.

Cohen adds that this apparent protective effect of hugging can be attributed to the physical contact itself and to hugging as a behavioral indicator of support and intimacy. Those who received more hugs are in some ways more protected from infections that lead to illness.

This study was published in the journal, Psychological Science.

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