Article by
Christmas is right around the corner and people meet up with their loved ones to spend the holidays with them.
In a year dominated by the current public health emergency, large face-to-face meet-ups are almost not possible due to public health recommendations.
With this, people do not go out as often and feelings of loneliness set in.
However, the problem does not stop there. Loneliness itself is said to be associated with a physical illness such as cardiovascular disease. From an evolution perspective, it was highly advantageous for our ancestors to congregate with other individuals for reasons of safety.
Therefore, if a person ended up alone, they did not feel safe.
This, in turn, caused .
In the 21st Century, this same stress response can still be seen through a rise in cortisol levels, the stress hormone, in people who consider themselves to be lonely. In a normal situation, cortisol is a hormone which influences bodily functions such as cardiovascular activity. It is no surprise that one of the organs which this hormone can have a negative impact on, when raised, is the heart.
Diseases which can manifest as a result . Another thing which glucocorticoids such as cortisol are capable of is to reduce nitric oxide production in the cells lining our blood vessels. As nitric oxide works to increase the diameter of the blood vessels in question, a lack thereof increases resistance within blood vessels, and can, therefore, predispose to high .
It is important to note that yet, this causative or contributory relationship between the lack of Nitric Oxide production and hypertension in lonely individuals is . It is noteworthy that hypertension can contribute to the development of conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.
Despite the importance given to physical health, mental health can be equally as important and devastating, if not controlled. Loneliness itself can leave a person feeling down, worthless, hopeless and this might also impact their eating or sleeping habits. If such a low mood has been there for a while, the person might fit the criteria for depression.
However, it should be noted that despite the link made above, depression might always be caused by loneliness, but both entities seem to affect each other, in a way that .
With all of that said, things to keep in mind both in this holiday season and in years to come is to integrate lonely people or people at risk of loneliness, such as the elderly, into our social groups and communities. Communication is key to keep them present and involved in these conversations. With modern technology, talking to another person is simply a video or phone call away.
Disclaimer: Opinions and thoughts expressed within this article do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Malta. Opinions and facts expressed on these conditions should not be used to self-diagnose. If you are experiencing symptoms, please consult with your doctor.
