I just received an interesting email from Sarah about a recent CNN story that details the impact of loneliness on cardiovascular disease. I found the story fascinating, so I posted the first few paragraphs below. I also included a hyperlink to the rest of the article after the snippet.
Here is the beginning to Ray Hainer’s article title, “Loneliness Hurts The Heart”:
People who lack a strong network of friends and family are at greater risk of developing — and dying from — heart disease, research shows. According to some studies, the risk of solitude is comparable to that posed by high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and even smoking.
Experts haven’t pinpointed exactly how social networks protect against heart disease, but there are a number of probable explanations. People who are socially isolated are more likely to drink, smoke, and get less exercise. And once someone has heart disease, friends and family often provide key support, such as picking up prescriptions, encouraging exercise, cooking healthy meals, and helping with household chores.
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