Researchers have found a profound effect of loneliness and physical illness, to functional and cognitive decline and even to an early death.
Professor John Cacioppo, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, has found that loneliness is associated with increased levels of cortisol, a major stress hormone, as well a higher vascular resistance which can raise blood pressure and decrease blood flow to vital organs. In addition, loneliness affects the production of white blood cells which can impair the immune systems ability to fight infections.
In the USA and Britain approximately 1 in 3 people older than 65 live alone and loneliness is an acknowledged issue for up to 46% of this group.
In the USA there are very few public health initiatives helping people recognize that loneliness is both a physical and mental health problem.
Men and women differ in how they deal with loneliness. 70% of membership is community groups tend to be women who are looking for social contact. Men, especially older men, tend to pretend that they do not need to chat with friends yet they usually feel better if they do.
Read more…http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/06/health/lonliness-aging-health-effects.html