There is no getting around the fact that we are intrinsically social beings. If we move away from a sense of community or have no sense of belonging, it is a threat to public health and can cause myriad health effects for an individual, as shown in a new report. Advisor From the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States.
The consultations are for “significant public health challenges” that require awareness and immediate action, according to the Surgeon General’s Office. It was loneliness and social isolation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemicBut the pandemic may have also shifted our attention to loneliness as a public health problem, according to the report released Tuesday.
Persistent feelings of loneliness or social isolation can affect our mood and emotions, cause symptoms of anxiety and depression, and increase our risk of other health conditions, including: My heart disease and dementia.
“Loneliness is much more than a bad feeling – it is detrimental to individual and community health,” US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wrote in the advisory’s editorial. “It is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death.”
In terms of mortality, or how something contributes to the risk of death, Murthy said, loneliness has a similar effect to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and has a greater risk than obesity or physical inactivity.
There are a lot of factors that may contribute to a person’s isolation from others or persistent loneliness – some of which are outlined in the counseling include shrinking social networks, increased use of social media, and people feeling polarized from each other due to differing ideologies.
Feelings of loneliness and isolation also affect people disproportionately — the elderly, young adults, people in poor health, single parents, people who live alone, people who don’t have much money, and people with disabilities may be at greater risk, according to the report.
A chart from the US Surgeon General’s Office shows how a lack of social contact can affect your health, compared to other factors we often see associated with certain health risks.
Office of the US Surgeon General
How does loneliness affect health?
It could be It is difficult to disengage from loneliness and health They are directly related, because other factors that prevent your risk of chronic disease, such as being physically active, preparing nutritious meals and even getting to a doctor’s appointment are often more difficult when you don’t get support or help from someone else. Lack of access to health care services may also affect certain groups more, such as the elderly and people with disabilities.
But loneliness and the stress that comes with it can have a direct impact on health. The unit is active Sympathetic nervous systemwhich could lead to High stress hormones, inflammation in the body, and high blood pressure. The unit can also affect your sleepWhich in turn It affects your general health.
Tips for finding community and reducing loneliness
If you feel lonely, you are not alone. According to the advisory from the Surgeon General, about half of adults in the United States report feeling lonely in recent years.
Feelings of loneliness or isolation can come from feeling like you don’t connect with another person or community. feeling “connected” It can come through things like talking to someone and feeling like they understand you, having a pleasant experience with someone else, or doing something nice for someone and feeling good about the fact that you made someone else feel good.
To make communications more pleasant or meaningful and to overcome feelings of loneliness, One of the things you can do It is joining a club or group about something you really like to do. You can also join a support group – maybe even a personal group in your area through the National Alliance on Mental Illness. If you have symptoms of anxiety or depression, you may also consider treatment from a professional who can make sure your needs are met.
But it may also feel daunting to try to make friends, especially as an adult. For tips on getting yourself out there, Follow CNET’s list of scams This might make meeting like-minded people a little easier.
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