- 1. High blood pressure
- 2. Alteration of blood sugar
- 3. Predisposition to cancer development
- 4. Stress and anxiety
- 5. Depression
- 6. Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- 7. Pain in muscles and joints
- 8. Greater chance of dependence on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes
- How to combat the consequences of loneliness
The feeling of loneliness, which is when the person is or feels alone, has bad health consequences, as it causes sadness, interferes with well-being and facilitates the development of diseases such as stress, anxiety or depression.
These situations can also cause physical diseases, as they are closely linked to the deregulation of hormones, such as serotonin, adrenaline and cortisol, which affect the person's endocrine and immune system, that is, the body starts to perform activities less efficiently and you are more likely to have disease.
The consequences of loneliness are even greater in old age, as these people have a greater difficulty maintaining social life, whether due to the loss of close relatives or the physical limitation of leaving home and doing activities.
Although there is no absolute proof of cause and deed, studies have already shown that loneliness can favor the emergence of:
1. High blood pressure
People who are lonely are more likely to develop high blood pressure. This can happen due to factors such as less control of food, with the consumption of foods of lower nutritional quality, rich in fat and salt, as well as the lower chances of practicing physical exercises.
In addition, those suffering from depression or anxiety may also have higher rates of high blood pressure, mainly due to the deregulation of hormones like cortisol. It is important that the pressure is within the limits recommended by the doctor, as otherwise it can favor the occurrence of heart attacks, stroke or kidney problems. Find out what are the natural ways to control high blood pressure.
2. Alteration of blood sugar
Loneliness can make people more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, as some studies suggest. Emotional diabetes does not exist, but some emotional issues can indirectly cause the disease, either by increasing the consumption of foods with a lot of sugar or by deregulating the production of hormones, such as insulin and cortisol, which are hormones related to control blood sugar levels.
In addition, some elderly people who live alone may have difficulties maintaining regular treatment for diabetes, either due to greater difficulty in accessing medications or to ways of monitoring blood glucose.
3. Predisposition to cancer development
Lonely people tend to develop more cancer, probably because the body is under constant stress, increasing the chances of mutations and proliferation of cancer cells. The lonely person's lifestyle can also influence, such as overeating, drinking alcohol or smoking.
It has also been shown that people with depression may have more cancer relapses and, moreover, tend to survive less of the disease, which may be due to having less support during treatment, not being able to carry out the treatment well, missing more appointments from return and do not participate in social support activities.
4. Stress and anxiety
The feeling of loneliness, as well as depression and anxiety, signal to the brain that the body is under stress, increasing the level of the hormone cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone.
The high concentration of cortisol can lead to loss of muscle mass, learning difficulties and memory lapses. Check out what are the signs of stress in the body and how to control.
5. Depression
People who feel alone are more likely to experience depression, which is associated with a feeling of emptiness, abandonment, lack of social life and support. Thus, people start to have constant sadness, loss of energy and the desire to do daily activities, irritability, lack of appetite or excessive appetite, insomnia or desire to sleep all the time.
Learn how to differentiate sadness from depression.
6. Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
People who feel alone are more likely to develop insomnia, probably due to psychological issues such as feelings of insecurity and helplessness.
Thus, an accepted hypothesis is that the lonely person is always on the alert because he feels vulnerable to everything, so the body remains in a state of constant stress, unable to relax. These people also tend to have trouble getting to sleep soundly, wake up several times during the night, or simply have trouble sleeping.
7. Pain in muscles and joints
Pain in the muscles and joints can be the result of a lack of physical exercise or even poor posture, as normally those who feel alone may not feel like doing common activities or being outdoors, simply because they are alone.
Check out what are the best exercises to practice in old age.
8. Greater chance of dependence on drugs, alcohol and cigarettes
Loneliness is associated with a greater risk of developing chemical dependencies, medicines, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, probably due to the search for a feeling of pleasure or immediate relief. The lack of support from friends and family to combat addiction also makes it difficult to quit the habit.
How to combat the consequences of loneliness
To prevent loneliness from persisting and causing or worsening many diseases, it is important to have attitudes that remove this situation and increase social life, such as practicing a hobby , signing up for a course or adopting an animal, for example.
The support of the family, if possible, is very important to help the person, especially when elderly, to overcome this feeling. Find out more about other attitudes you should take to combat loneliness.
When loneliness causes physical symptoms, or when it is associated with other symptoms such as sadness, loss of will, altered appetite or altered sleep, it is important to seek the support of a psychologist and a psychiatrist, as it may be associated with other conditions of health, like depression.
