Scientists from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) concluded that loneliness is a major risk factor for heart disease, along with diet, exercise, smoking and depression. Related research published in the organization’s journal.
The quality of social contact is probably more important for heart health in people with diabetes, according to study author Lu Qi, of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. The scientist believes that people should not underestimate the importance of loneliness for physical and emotional health.
“I would recommend people with diabetes who feel lonely to join a group of people and try to befriend people with common interests,” said Lu Qi.
More than 18,000 British adults aged 37 to 73 years participated in the study, who used parameters such as body mass index (BMI), physical activity, diet, alcohol, smoking, medication, blood pressure to assess loneliness and other factors. , cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The study found that over a decade, more than 3,000 people developed heart disease, including coronary heart disease or stroke.
Researchers found that those who scored high on the Loneliness Scale had a 26% higher risk of developing heart disease than those who scored low. The researchers also concluded that the effects of physical risk factors (poorly controlled blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and poor kidney function) for patients with diabetes were stronger in those living alone. Asking patients with diabetes about loneliness should be part of the standard assessment referred to mental health services, the researchers said.
Australian scientists before establishedIt has been determined that consuming two cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 15%.