Jonathan Wilhoite Blog: Researchers Explain How Loneliness Can Be Deadly

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Researchers Explain How Loneliness Can Be Deadly

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Loneliness is that feeling of emptiness and isolation inside of you. It may be because you literally don’t have any friends or family, but it’s not limited to that. It can also be a feeling of being alone, even when you’re surrounded with people. So even if you’re the most cheerful person on the planet, it’s possible for you to feel it.

Basically, it’s like you’re separated from the world in the most unpleasant way. We’ve all felt that at some point in our lives, and it’s not a very nice feeling.

Now a new study conducted by researchers from University of Chicago has found how loneliness can be deadly. Read more in this report by Justine Alford on IFL Science:

How Loneliness Can Be Deadly

We’ve all felt isolated at times, but the so-called “invisible epidemic” that is loneliness is about much more than ephemeral feelings of sadness. Doctors have known for some time that loneliness is associated with not only chronic illness but death, too. Now, scientists are beginning to unravel why this is, with the discovery that social isolation puts our body in “fight or flight” mode, preparing for social threat. This triggers a cascade of events that ultimately alter the production of white blood cells, leaving us vulnerable to disease. Read more…

So it’s true how loneliness can be deadly by causing inflammation, which then makes your body prone to chronic diseases such as cancers, heart diseases and more. I guess it’s not just a metaphorical phrase when Britney Spears said “my loneliness is killing me” in her hit song in the 90s.

Aside from that, it can also be a cause of suicide. This is very alarming because it’s more prominent in young people around 18 to 34 years old.

A study in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science earlier this year reported that it can be the next big public health issue, along with obesity and addiction, as it increases risk of death by up to 26 percent.

What can you do about it? Make friends, find a new hobby, write in a journal, eat – there are so many ways! Don’t be afraid to open yourself to people. Just take the initiative. Remember, no man is an island. You can’t get stuck in your loneliness forever, it’ll literally kill you!

Image Credit: How Loneliness Can Be Deadly – IFL Science

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from NUTRITIONCLUB http://nutritionclub.ca/researchers-found-how-loneliness-can-be-deadly/