Some 12,161 people aged 50 and over who never had a stroke were asked questions about loneliness.
Researchers from Harvard University in the US found that chronic loneliness could have a big impact on people as they age.
“Especially when experienced chronically, our study suggests loneliness may play an important role in stroke incidence, which is already one of the leading causes of long-term disability and mortality worldwide.” Four years later, 8,936 people who remained in the study responded to the same questions and researchers then grouped the people depending on their answers across the two time points.Among the people who provided two assessments of loneliness over time, 601 strokes occurred between 2010-2018.
They suggested physical reasons why loneliness might impact stroke include higher blood pressure and lower immunity, while lonely people may also adopt unhealthy lifestyles, such as not taking medication, smoking, using alcohol and not getting enough sleep. Dr Soh said people should be offered help based on their loneliness – which relates to how people feel even if surrounded by others – and not social isolation, which is different.
“Feeling low can make it that much harder to look after our health properly and manage a health condition. It may mean we feel that there is nowhere to turn when we are worried about a health problem and that can put us off seeking help.
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