Feeling lonely? You may be damaging your health

Social isolation linked to higher risks of death and diseases

Washington, Sept. 20: Even doctors are calling loneliness an epidemic of the modern age.

Nearly half of Americans say that they feel lonely most or even all of the time, and it isn't just a detriment to their social lives and happiness; loneliness is bad for their health, the Daily Mail reports.

Plenty of studies have found strong links between loneliness and risks for just about every disease — from cardiovascular disease to stroke and even death on the whole.

But only recently have scientists been able to identify what is actually happening in the body as a direct result of loneliness.

Harvard University psychiatrist Dr Charles Bullock explained in a blog post for the university the biology of loneliness — and why it's so crucial that we treat our symptoms with the best medicine: people.

Nearly half of all Americans report that they are lonely some or all of the time.

A Harvard doctor explains that isolation disrupts our brains and hormone systems, damaging health.

The health dangers of loneliness are not new. A review of studies conducted back in 1988 identified higher rates of mortality, illness, injury, smoking, obesity and high blood pressure in lonely people, marking social isolation a risk factor for all of the above.

Despite all of our online connections — the average person has 338 Facebook ‘ friends’ — we are only getting lonelier.

But Dr Bullock says that these effects can be reduced, if not reversed.

“People are anxiety relievers. And people are antidepressants, as well as blood pressure reducers ( mostly). People, in general, are good for you,” writes Dr Bullock.

He suggests that even the distant presence of others during solitary activities — like going to a library or public place to read — can inspire the brain to give us more oxytocin, putting a damper on our soaring stress hormone levels. Better yet, and more clearly proven, making a friend might be the best think you can do for your health.

An American Association of Retired Persons survey found that just one close relationship can decrease loneliness.

Meanwhile, regions of the pain that tell us something is painful thrive on our loneliness.

The health dangers of loneliness: higher rates of mortality, illness, injury, smoking, obesity and high blood pressure A Harvard University psychiatrist explained the biology of loneliness — and why it’s so crucial that we treat our symptoms with the best medicine: people