Loneliness affect the body
Health / / December 19, 2019
The fact that the man - a social animal, Aristotle said more. Psychologists believe this property is the cause of the success of our species. However, the constant need in the community have a downside: isolation and loneliness cause us harm. Scientist, geneticist Steve Cole told exactly how loneliness harms the body.
Steve Cole (Steve Cole)
Professor of medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles. Engaged in genome research and bioinformatics computing. One of the founders of social genomics.
Be alone and feel lonely - it's not the same thing. Solitude - the feeling that we have less meaningful social relationships than we would like. Of course, all individually. Someone for a comfortable existence is enough to have a loved one, the other small and ten. However, scientists have noted that in recent years more and more people feel lonelyPerceived social isolation, evolutionary fitness and health outcomes: a lifespan approach. .
According to studies, loneliness is associated with high blood pressure
Loneliness is a unique predictor of age-related differences in systolic blood pressure. and heart problemsWomen, Loneliness, and Incident Coronary Heart Disease. . It turns out, loneliness breaks our hearts in a very literal sense.In addition, a meta-analysis conducted by 70 research in 2015 showed that loneliness increases the probability of the risk of death by 26%Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality. . And, for example, depression and anxiety disorders increase the risk of death by 21% only.Association between psychological distress and mortality.
Steve ColeLoneliness is much more than heartache. This biological wound that causes destruction of cells.
Loneliness is reflected at the cellular level
In 2007, Cole, along with other scientists made an interesting discovery from the University of California. It was found that the cells of those who suffer from chronic loneliness, look different. Scientists have noticed two major genetic differences between lonely and not alone the people.
- In singles the genes responsible for the inflammatory response of the body, be much more active. And it is quite dangerous. Yes, inflammation is necessary for the body to cope with the trauma. But if the inflammatory processes occur continuously, it creates a perfect environment for the development of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as metastatic cancer. "That's one of the reasons why single people are more prone to this disease," - says Cole.
- At the same time the activity of a group of genes responsible for combating viral infections suppressed. These genes are responsible for the production of special proteins - the first type of interferon, which prevent reproduction of viruses in the body.
Amplification of the inflammatory response during times of stress is quite logical. But why the body does not want to fight viruses?
According to Cole, a biological compromise. With inflammation body normally fights bacteria. But a typical reaction to the virus creates a favorable environment for bacterial growth. Therefore, the body makes the choice of which of the two reactions intensify.
In general, Cole believes that the response to chronic loneliness is not much different from the response to other sources of chronic stress - low socioeconomic status or post-traumatic syndrome.
Conclusions Cole confirmed by other investigatorsLoneliness, eudaimonia, and the human conserved transcriptional response to adversity. It indicates that single people are more prone to chronic diseases and worse coping with the disease. This partly explains the high mortality among single.
Of course, this is not the only reason. Of course, easier to live when there is someone who can take to the doctor or to support in a difficult situation.
Loneliness - it's a vicious circle. The more isolated we feel, the more we feel threatened. And the more we feel that we are threatened, the more we strive to isolation.
How to prevent the effects of loneliness
According to some studies, cell symptoms weaken as it passes a feeling of lonelinessMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults. . However, Cole believes that the evidence that attempts to make a man less alone do help, yet not enough.
More effective are the efforts to return people to the meaning of life. For example, one charity in Los Angeles unites lonely elderly people and elementary school students. Elderly people help students with homework and looking after them, and it gives them a purpose and makes you feel healthier.
Of course, from time to time the body needs stress. And loneliness is us must. Periods of solitude for life are completely natural.
But, according to Cole now solitude turns into an epidemic which must be fought. After all, it is even more dangerous to health than anxiety and depression, which we usually fear.