LONELINESS

It is the biggest cause of heart disease in elderly.

- Dr. Sanjay Teotia

Loneliness can increase your chances for heart disease, stroke, and early death. Loneliness and social isolation are linked to a 29 per cent increased risk of a heart attack or angina and a 32 per cent heightened risk of having a stroke. Loneliness is a subjective negative feeling associated with someone's perception that their relationships with others are deficient. But since this is a subjective judgment it depends on how the person perceives the situation.

Various researchers have suggested that lonely and isolated people are more likely to smoke and be physically inactive, so the increased risk of heart problems could be partly linked to this, rather than loneliness itself. Loneliness is a serious issue that affects many thousands of people. It can lead to poor lifestyle habits, which may increase the risk of heart disease.

Some studies suggest that there is a physiological link between loneliness and heart health problem. Our mental health affects our risk of developing heart problems.

It's important for anyone affected by loneliness to remember that they can reach out to their doctor for help and advice and also take further steps to improve their well-being such as joining a local community group or possibly volunteering in their free time. Loneliness in old people is a serious public health risk affecting a significant number of the population and putting them at risk of cardiac problems, dementia, and other serious medical conditions.