Scientists have discovered that meeting a beautiful woman could be bad for your health. According to a study from the University of Valencia, spending five minutes alone with an attractive woman can raise the levels of cortisol, which is the body's stress hormone.

The effect is enhanced in men who believe that the woman in question is 'out of their league'.

Cortisol has been linked to heart disease; it is produced by the body under physical or psychological stress.

Researchers tested 84 male students by asking each one to sit in a room and solve a Sudoku puzzle. Two strangers, a male and a female, were also in the room.

When the female stranger left the room and the two men sitting together, the volunteer's stress level did not rise. However, when the volunteer was left with the female stranger, his cortisol levels rose.

The researchers came to a theory that "we considered that for most men the presence of an attractive woman may induced the perception that there is an opportunity for courtship."

"While some men might avoid attractive women since they think they are 'out of their league', the majority would respond with apprehension and concurrent hormonal response. This study showed that male cortisol levels increased after exposure to a five-minute short social contact with a young, attractive woman."

According to studies, cortisol can have a positive effect in small doses, improving alertness and well-being.However, major elevated cortisol levels can worsen medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, hyper tension and impotency.