Revealed: Does loneliness increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?

This is the 4839th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

One day, a young woman walked into the nursing clinic with a tired expression on her face and said, "I have been feeling weak lately. My heart rate on my wristband is often over 100 beats per minute. My sleep quality is poor and my blood pressure is high."

The nurse asked: "Do you live with your family or alone? What are your hobbies?"

The woman said: "Because my parents are out of town, I live alone and work from home. I don't like going out or socializing. Today I saw a short video on my phone saying 'loneliness increases the risk of cardiovascular disease' and I feel chest tightness and discomfort recently, so I want to consult if this is the reason?"

So does loneliness increase the risk of cardiovascular disease? Let's find out.

1. What is loneliness?

Loneliness refers to people feeling that they are alone, isolated from the people or environment around them. It can be subjective or objective. Subjective loneliness refers to people feeling lonely inside, while objective loneliness refers to people being in a lonely environment. Loneliness can be short-lived or long-lasting. There are two meanings of loneliness that we often talk about:

1. "Social isolation" due to lack of social interaction;

2. Some "subjectively lonely people" who still feel lonely even if they socialize frequently;

Both types of loneliness can have an impact on mental health, may increase the incidence of heart disease and stroke, and lead to an increase in bad habits such as smoking, alcoholism, and staying up late.

Loneliness is a feeling that everyone experiences. Long-term loneliness may cause people to become anxious and depressed. In 2018, the UK appointed the world's first "Minister of Loneliness" in the hope of drawing everyone's attention to the growing problem of loneliness.

Recent studies show

Loneliness not only affects mental health, but may also increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other diseases. People who are lonely for a long time have a 29% increased risk of heart attack and a 32% increased risk of stroke. For patients who already have heart disease, the mortality rate of lonely people is 2-3 times higher than that of other people[1]. Moreover, patients with cardiovascular disease who are lonely for a long time have a higher difficulty in curing their disease and a slower recovery. Taking heart failure as an example, the 5-year survival rate of lonely patients drops from 79% to 60% compared with ordinary patients.

In addition, it is also related to excessive secretion of stress hormones: loneliness can cause the human body's "HPA axis", that is, the "hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis" to be overstimulated, resulting in excessive release of stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol affects insulin secretion, heart rate, heart pumping ability and other body functions. If the concentration is too high, it will cause functional disorders and increase the risk of a series of cardiovascular diseases.

This shows that there is a correlation between loneliness and cardiovascular disease. Loneliness may lead to a series of health problems, including increased stress, poor sleep quality, unbalanced diet, lack of exercise, etc., which are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

In addition, long-term loneliness may lead to some mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, which are also related to cardiovascular disease.

However, this does not mean that maintaining social connections with others can completely avoid cardiovascular disease. Note that the occurrence of cardiovascular disease is often affected by many factors, including genetics, diet, exercise, smoking, drinking, obesity, high blood pressure, etc. Therefore, maintaining a good lifestyle, stable emotions, and abundant energy are essential for our physical and mental health!!!

2. What are some ways to alleviate loneliness in daily life?

Share the following 4 practical tips

Tip 1

It is to be active in socializing. When you have nothing to do, you can put down your phone and go out with a few friends. Psychological surveys show that compared with people who have no social interaction in a month, people who participate in group activities three or more times a month have 44% less negative emotions such as pessimism and depression.

Tip 2

It is to get more sun and do more aerobic exercise. Sunbathing helps promote the secretion of serotonin, a "happy hormone", while aerobic exercise can promote the secretion of dopamine and relieve anxiety.

Tip 3

Try mindfulness meditation. Meditation can help you focus your attention and achieve deep relaxation of your body and mind. Studies have found that meditation can promote the secretion of endorphins in the brain, which can bring a lasting sense of happiness.

Tip 4

It is appropriate to eat more foods rich in magnesium. Magnesium is known as a "stress regulator" that can regulate nerve activity and reduce negative effects. Vegetables such as spinach, leeks, and amaranth are rich in magnesium, so you might as well add them to your daily menu.

In short, maintaining an active social life and a healthy lifestyle is very important for preventing cardiovascular disease. If you feel lonely or have any health problems, it is recommended to seek help from a professional doctor.

References:

[1] Wang Bing. To get out of loneliness, you have to rely on yourself[J]. Health Care Guide, 2017, 000(007):P.65-65.

Huajing Town Community Health Service Center, Xuhui District, Shanghai

Li Fengling, Head Nurse

Sun Wei, Chief Nurse