Health

Loneliness may be linked to heart disease in older women, 10-year research project suggests


One study has found that loneliness increases older women’s risk of potentially deadly heart conditions.

Scientists looked at data from 57,000 women over the age of 65 who were followed for nearly a decade.

Subjects were asked about their levels of loneliness and social isolation, and this was compared with rates of heart disease.

Research shows that women who are lonely and isolated have a 13 to 27 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with heart disease.

Research published in the journal Jama has warned that increased isolation caused by Covid-19 and lip-locking may put more older women at risk for heart problems.

The study conducted by the University of California, which followed a sample of 57,000 postmenopausal women for nearly a decade, concluded that the rate of heart disease was higher among respondents alone.

The study conducted by the University of California, which followed a sample of 57,000 postmenopausal women for nearly a decade, concluded that the rate of heart disease was higher among respondents alone.

The study conducted by the University of California, which followed a sample of 57,000 postmenopausal women for nearly a decade, concluded that the rate of heart disease was higher among respondents alone.

Lead author, Dr Natalie Golaszewski, from the University of California, said: ‘We are social creatures.

‘In this time of Covid-19, many people are experiencing social isolation and loneliness, which can turn into a chronic state.

‘It is important to understand more about the acute and long-term effects these experiences have on cardiovascular health and overall health.’

She explains that social isolation and loneliness are ‘mildly correlated’ and can occur at the same time, but they are not mutually exclusive.

For example, a person who is socially isolated does not always feel lonely while a person can still feel lonely even when they see a lot of friends and family.

Co-author Dr John Bellettiere said: ‘Social isolation is physical distancing from people, such as not touching, seeing or talking to others.

‘Loneliness is a feeling, a feeling that can be experienced even by those who are in constant contact with other people.’

He added that social isolation and loneliness were a ‘growing public health concern’ as they were linked to health problems including obesity, smoking, inactivity , poor diet, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Heart disease causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK, more than 160,000 a year.

There are 3.6 million women living with heart disease in the UK.

The new study involved more than 57,000 postmenopausal American women who previously responded to questionnaires assessing social isolation between 2011 and 2012.

They were sent a second questionnaire assessing loneliness and social support between 2014 and 2015.

Participants were followed from the time they completed the questionnaire to 2019 or when they were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

A total of 1,599 participants experienced potentially fatal heart problems.

Loneliness in the general population is also linked to poor lung health.

The British Heart Foundation recognizes ‘an association between social isolation and increased risk of death’.

A 2016 study out of York University found that loneliness and poor relationships were linked to a 32 percent increased risk of stroke.

Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk



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