Mental Health

Loners More Prone To Stroke: Social Isolation Kills 30% More Lonely People

By George Houston | Update Date: Apr 20, 2016 04:20 AM EDT

A recent study has shown that loneliness and social isolation increases the chances of individuals in developing stroke and coronary heart disease.

The primary study which involved recording data of 181,000 people in a span of 3 to 21 years established the fact that 30 percent will be more likely to suffer a stroke or heart disease because of being deficient in social relationships - a characteristic easily manifested by loners, according to Health Day.

Such an end result is quite baffling, especially that in Britain, stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality.

Nicole K. Valtorta of Department of Health Sciences of University of York which conducted the study justified the outcome saying:

"The main finding of our review, that isolated individuals are at increased risk of developing CHD and stroke, supports public health concerns over the implications of social relationships for health and well-being."

Valtorta also added that "Our work suggests that addressing loneliness and social isolation may have an important role in the prevention of two of the leading causes of morbidity in high-income countries."

Their study likewise made a conclusion which involved interventions from health practitioners as playing an important role in recognizing social relations to their patients.

Being lonely and its impact on morbidity has long been an established fact however the scope of the risk factors that involved in one having stroke has still not been brought about.

Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a Brigham Young University psychology professor also gave the nod to the findings as her earlier research even suggested that social isolation should be enumerated as one of the key proponents for an individual to suffer a stroke, according to Sage Journals.

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