4 Ways Being Lonely Can Affect Your Health

(When you're lonely, brain hormones associated with
stress such as cortisol become active, which can
cause depression. Photo: Madamenoire)
When you're lonely, you may look for friends in all
sorts of unexpected places. At least that's the
conclusion of a recent study in Psychological Science
that found that folks who felt socially disconnected —
aka lonely — were more likely to view a doll's face as
human.
But the health implications of being lonely go much
further than a weird personality quirk. 'People who
are lonely have more physical and mental health
problems than those who feel connected to others,'
explains Bruce Rabin, M.D., director of the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Healthy
Lifestyle Program. Here, four ways loneliness affects
your health:
You're more likely to be down in the dumps.
The more lonely you feel, the more likely you are to
have depressive symptoms, according to research at
the University of Chicago.
'When you're lonely, brain hormones associated with
stress such as cortisol become active, which can
cause depression,' Rabin explains. 'In fact, for mild
and moderate depression social interaction is even
more effective at alleviating symptoms than a
prescription antidepressant.'
One 2009 Colorado State University study found that
the more positive social interactions people with
depression had, the more improvement in symptoms
they experienced.
You're less likely to take care of yourself.
Research shows you'll eat less healthful fare if you
frequently dine solo: Single and widowed men and
women 50 and older, for example, eat fewer veggies
daily than married or cohabiting counterparts. 'If
you're cooking for other people, you're more likely to
prepare a healthier meal that contains a range of
foods — a meat, a starch, a vegetable — than if
you're just throwing together something for
yourself,' Rabin points out.
Folks who are lonely are also more likely to be
physically inactive, according to a 2009 study
published in the journal Health Psychology.
You may be more susceptible to heart disease.
Middle aged adults who live alone have a 24 percent
increased risk of dying of heart disease, according to
a 2012 Harvard study. 'Research has consistently
shown lonely people have a higher risk of heart
disease, and it's for many reasons,' Rabin says.
'Since they don't have social support, they're more
susceptible to the effects of stress, which increases
the likelihood of getting heart disease. We know
elevated stress hormones increase the accumulation
of cholesterol deposits in the heart. Secondly, if
they're lonely they're less likely to be physically
active or eat properly. And finally, if they don't feel
well, they're much less likely to confide that in
someone who will insist that they go to the doctor to
get checked out.'
You could have a weaker immune system.
Loneliness can strain the immune system, according
to Ohio State University research presented in 2013.
People who were lonely produced more
inflammation-related proteins in response to stress
than folks who felt more socially connected.
Inflammation is linked to numerous health conditions
including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis
and Alzheimer's disease.
What to do about it
Joining a bevy of social groups isn't necessarily the
best way to combat loneliness. 'It's important to note
that someone can be alone, or have only a handful of
close friends, and not be lonely,' Rabin stresses. 'Or
you can be a social butterfly and out with friends
every night of the week and still feel isolated.' His
advice? Volunteer. Doing good deeds for others will
lift your mood, and you'll most likely meet kindred
spirits that you can cultivate a real connection with
— which in turn will leave you feeling less lonely.

Sent From David Aniemeka