Loneliness. Imagine a world where simply feeling alone could take as much of a toll on your heart health as a poor diet or lack of exercise. This is not a dystopian scenario, but a reality confirmed by a recent study from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Published in eClinicalMedicine, this research reveals that chronic loneliness could significantly increase the risk of stroke, particularly in older people.
A chilling study
According to the team led by Harvard research associate Yenee Soh, older adults with chronic loneliness have a 56% increased risk of having a stroke compared to those who feel socially connected. The study, carried out on more than 12,000 participants aged 50 and over, measured loneliness at two key moments, separated by four years, in order to better understand its long-term impact. The results are edifying: if temporary loneliness does not show a direct link with the risk of stroke, prolonged loneliness turns out to be a real silent poison for the cardiovascular system.
“Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a major public health problem,” says Soh. And for good reason: it is not just an emotional experience. On a physical level, it acts like chronic stress, promoting inflammation, increasing blood pressure and weakening the immune system.
A subtle but crucial difference: loneliness vs. social isolation
To fully understand the phenomenon, we must distinguish loneliness from social isolation. The first is a subjective feeling, while the second is an objective state of physical separation. In other words, you can feel alone in a room full of people, or perfectly fulfilled while living alone. The study highlights that it is this perception of loneliness, and not simple isolation, which plays a determining role in the risk of stroke.
The mechanisms behind this correlation still remain unclear, but certain avenues are emerging. Chronic loneliness could exacerbate behaviors harmful to health, such as an unbalanced diet, a lack of physical activity or even sleep disorders. Even more, it is associated with high rates of depression and anxiety, two aggravating factors for the heart.
A pandemic of loneliness?
Loneliness, already well anchored in our modern societies, has exploded with the confinements linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. This upheaval has highlighted a chilling truth: despite the thousands of virtual friends one can have on social networks, the human need for real connection remains unsatisfied.
Harvard data shows that nearly half of American adults report feeling lonely, a figure that likely reflects a global trend. And this phenomenon is not limited to seniors. Young adults, often caught in a whirlwind of social comparison and digital pressures, are also plagued by chronic loneliness.
What to do?
To counter this silent epidemic, several avenues are available to us:
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