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CNN
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Loneliness does not only depend on the number of people around us, but also on the way we feel. And it may impact stroke risk, according to a new study.
In fact, according to a new study, older adults who reported experiencing chronic loneliness had a 56% higher risk of stroke than those who were consistently rated low on the loneliness scale.
“It is important to assess loneliness regularly, as the consequences can be worse if it is not identified and/or ignored,” said the study’s lead author, Dr Yenee Soh, a research associate at the Department in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. , in an email.
The study, published Monday in the journal eClinicalMedicine, examined data collected between 2006 and 2018 as part of the Health and Retirement Study. More than 12,000 participants aged 50 or older were initially surveyed between 2006 and 2008, according to the study.
When the researchers followed up four years later, nearly 9,000 participants remained in the study. They answered questions on the UCLA Loneliness Scale-Revised and received loneliness scores for both time points.
Researchers also tracked participants’ stroke cases and analyzed the data against their loneliness scores, according to the study.
Although people who scored high on loneliness at both time points experienced a large increase in risk, there was no clear association with stroke risk among those who did not score higher than at one point, Soh said. This suggests that the greatest impact on stroke risk occurs in the long term.
“We’ve known for some time that loneliness is a risk factor for many conditions,” said Dr. Matt Pantell, associate professor in the department of pediatrics and senior faculty member at the University’s Center for Health and Community. from California to San Francisco. . He was not involved in the research.
Previous research has linked loneliness and isolation to sleep problems, inflammation and other symptoms in young adults, as well as shorter lifespan, insomnia, depression and other symptoms in older people. Loneliness and social isolation may be linked to higher risks of heart disease, dementia, diabetes, addiction, self-harm and suicidal tendencies in people of all ages.
“This (new study) has implications for clinicians and health systems in that understanding whether or not a person is alone and for how long can help identify people at higher risk of stroke ” added Pantell.
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According to the study, people who scored high on the loneliness scale every time they were surveyed had a much higher risk of stroke.
Being alone a lot doesn’t mean you’ll always feel alone. Being alone means not having many people around, while being alone is a feeling of isolation that you can feel regardless of the people around you.
And it’s this feeling of loneliness that the study shows is linked to an increased risk of stroke, Soh said.
“Since loneliness is a highly subjective experience, it is important to seek help to address your specific personal needs and intervene accordingly,” she said.
Health care providers can play a role in screening for loneliness and referring patients to behavioral health therapists and clinicians, Soh added.
“People may not be aware or reluctant to admit that they feel alone,” she said. “It may be helpful to complete questionnaires to assess loneliness, either on your own or in a healthcare context, to first identify and acknowledge that you are feeling alone. »
It’s important to note that this study is observational, meaning it can’t say that feelings of loneliness were the direct cause of the strokes, just that they were correlated, Pantell said. People who feel lonely may share demographic factors or health characteristics that also make them more likely to have a stroke, he said.
However, the researchers conducted a thorough study and controlled for other explanations, Pantell added.
What makes a person feel lonely is often unique, meaning the changes they need to feel more socially integrated will also be individual, Soh said.
Loneliness affects people of all ages in the United States, a country experiencing an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation,” U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in 2023.
“Let it be known that you are experiencing feelings of loneliness and also identify what would be helpful to you specifically to deal with feelings of loneliness,” Soh said.
A wide range of organizations provide resources to help combat loneliness, so it can be helpful to get involved with those in your community, Soh added.
Scrolling through social media can feel like community involvement, but it may require a little more interaction to combat loneliness, Dr. Olivia Remes, a mental health researcher at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, said in a previous CNN article. Remes was not involved in the latest research.
Interact with your friends’ posts or send a private message, she said. Better yet, make in-person interactions with members of your community part of your daily routine.
“Taking the necessary steps to practice talking to those you encounter throughout your day can pay off. It can help you feel better, improve your mood and even avoid loneliness,” she said.
If you’re struggling to stand out to make the connections you need, or if you’re stuck in thought patterns that you won’t be well received, it may be time to seek help from a mental health professional, Dr. Louise Hawkley, a senior research scientist at the University of Chicago Research Centers, NORC, said in a previous CNN article.
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