Loneliness affects 5 million people in France. Because it is a taboo subject, the French Federation of Cardiology has decided to lift the veil on the risks incurred by single people. Loneliness can indeed have long-term consequences and lead to a sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, increased stress, itself responsible for smoking, unhealthy diet and high blood pressure.
“Cardiac prevention is very focused on the fight against obesity, tobacco and cholesterol. On the other hand, few doctors ask their patients about the quality of their social interactions, and even if they did, they could not prescribe them on prescription ”asks Claude Le Feuvre, president of the French Federation of Cardiology who considers that the The increased risk of mortality caused by loneliness could be compared to that of smokers.
Loneliness is not an illness but …
Feelings of isolation and loneliness weaken our immune system and make us more vulnerable to disease. American researchers have even shown that the people who felt the most alone went through many more episodes of pain, depression and fatigue than others. And that they were also more prone to herpes.
As if the picture was not dark enough, two other American studies carried out among seniors, showed that the elderly had 45% more risks of losing their autonomy in daily life and of dying prematurely, when they live alone.
For the president of the French Federation of Cardiology, we should therefore not hesitate to turn to others: “Doing good to a loved one by calling him, exchanging a simple smile, expressing his gratitude to those around him … are means simple to break away from isolation. Giving your time can also have a definite impact on mental health and mood and therefore keep your heart healthy, ”he insists.
