Loneliness can be bad for your health. Loneliness causes a variety of negative effects on the human body. Fortunately, by doing activities and social contacts, some of these adverse effects can be eliminated.
John
Cacioppo, a psychologist from the University of Chicago who studies the
effects of loneliness, presented the latest research in Social
Psychology and Perception meeting in San Diego. Cacioppo
found that loneliness is associated with hardening of the arteries that
lead to high blood pressure, inflammation, and even learning and memory
disorders.
"In
fact, an isolated fruit flies have poor health and die sooner than
fruit flies that interact with other flies. This suggests that social
engagement may have been programmed in all species," Cacioppo said.
In
one study, Cacioppo, and Steve Cole of UCLA examined how the immune
system to change from time to time in people who are socially isolated. They observed changes in genes that affect the immune system of people who are lonely. Genes in lonely individuals were involved in the activation of the immune system and inflammation.
Several
genes important in the body is not active in lonely people, eg, genes
that are important in the antiviral response and produce antibodies. In essence, the body of a lonely person has been allowed to weaken the body's defense against viruses and other diseases.
The
immune system must make a decision between the fight against virus
threats and protect the body against bacteria because they have the
ability to fight. In
the lonely people who see the world as a threatening place, the immune
system prefers to focus on the bacteria rather than the threat of
viruses.
Without antivirus protection and antibodies, the body's ability to fight cancer and other diseases will also be reduced. People who are socially isolated have higher chances of various diseases causing death, cancer, infection and heart disease.
Loneliness also increases levels of stress hormone cortisol, as well as circulation and blood pressure. One study showed that social isolation can push blood pressure into the danger zone of heart attack and stroke. This
condition weakens the circulatory system settings so that the heart
muscle work harder and blood vessels were damaged by the pressure of
blood flow.
Loneliness can also damage the quality of sleep, making sleep less refreshing, both physically and psychologically. People who are socially isolated more frequently awake at night and have fewer hours of sleep a really good quality.
Cycle created by the condition of loneliness can be a spiral. Another
study conducted by Cacioppo found that lonely people tend to judge more
negative social interactions and have a bad impression on people who
have encountered.
"Just
like a physical threat, protecting the body are socially lonely. This
lets us know when will the social relations began to stretch and cause
the brain to continue to be vigilant against social threats. Being alone
can result in negative behaviors, which are very lonely people see
others as threats and enable fall more deeply into the lonely, "Cacioppo said.
Loneliness not only makes people unhappy, but it also makes people feel insecure, mentally and physically. Loneliness
often experienced by people who feel abandoned for some time, either
due to move to another city or starting a school or college in the new
place.
Typically, a sense of loneliness subside on its own within six months. To treat people who feel isolated chronic, psychological therapy is needed. Cacioppo
and his colleagues found two of the best ways to treat loneliness,
social skills training that is needed to see the world in a more
positive and do an activity together.
(lmh/ed.bj)
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