It’s well known that loneliness can greatly affect your mind, but did you know how much it affects your body too?
Loneliness has been linked to everything from a compromised immune system to premature death, and a new study has now found links to an increase in heart disease and stroke risk.
Researchers from the universities of York, Liverpool and Newcastle found that social isolation can increase your risk of having a stroke or coronary artery disease – the two major causes of death in wealthy societies – by as much as 30%.
While the study was observational, which means firm conclusions cannot be drawn about cause and effect, those who did the research say it suggests “addressing loneliness and social isolation may have an important role in the prevention of two of the leading causes of morbidity in high-income countries”.
So how does being socially isolated affect your life? We want to hear about any links you believe it has to ill-health – from making you smoke and drink more to leading to depression or anxiety. Share your stories with us via the form below.
