The feeling of loneliness, that is, when the person is or feels alone, has bad health consequences because 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 illnesses, as they are closely related to the deregulation of hormones, such as serotonin, adrenaline and cortisol, which affect the endocrine and immune system of the person, that is, the body begins to perform activities less effectively and is more likely to have diseases.
- The consequences of loneliness are even greater in old age.
- As these people have greater difficulty maintaining social life.
- Either because of the loss of close relatives or the physical limitation of leaving home and doing activities.
Although there is no absolute cause-and-action test, studies have already shown that loneliness can promote the onset of:
Single people are more likely to develop high blood pressure, which can occur due to factors such as lower food control, lower nutritional quality, high-fat and salt foods, and lower chances of exercise.
In addition, people with depression or anxiety may also have higher rates of high blood pressure, mainly due to deregulation of hormones such as cortisol, it is important that the pressure is within the limits recommended by the doctor, otherwise it can favor the onset of heart attacks, strokes or kidney problems.Find out what natural ways to control high blood pressure.
Loneliness can make people more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, as some studies suggest. Emotional diabetes does not exist, but some emotional problems can indirectly cause the disease, either by increasing consumption of foods high in sugar or by deregulating hormone production., such as insulin and cortisol, which are hormones related to controlling blood sugar levels.
Additionally, some older people who live alone may find it difficult to maintain regular treatment for diabetes, either due to increased difficulties in accessing medications or due to ways to control blood glucose levels.
Single people tend to develop more cancer, probably because the body is under constant stress, increasing the risk of mutations and proliferation of cancer cells.The single person’s lifestyle can also influence, such as overeating, alcohol drinking or smoking.
It has also been shown that people with depression may have more cancer relapses and also tend to survive the disease less, which may be due to having less support during treatment, not being able to perform treatment properly, missing more visits.returns and does not participate in social support activities.
Feelings of loneliness, as well as depression and anxiety, signal to the brain that the body is stressed, which increases the level of the hormone cortisol, known as the stress hormone.
High cortisol concentration can cause muscle loss, learning difficulties and memory loss.Find out what signs of stress are in the body and how to manage it.
People who feel lonely are more likely to suffer from depression, which is associated with feelings of emptiness, neglect, lack of social life, and support, as a result, people begin to experience a constant sadness, loss of energy and a desire to make their daily lives.irritability, lack of appetite or excessive appetite, insomnia or wanting to sleep all the time.
Learn to differentiate between sadness and depression
People who feel lonely are more likely to develop insomnia, probably due to psychological problems such as feelings of insecurity and helplessness.
Thus, an accepted assumption is that the single person is constantly alert because he feels vulnerable to everything, so the body remains in a state of constant stress, without being able to relax, these people also tend to have trouble sleeping soundly, waking up several times.during the night or just having trouble sleeping.
Muscle and joint pain can be the result of lack of physical exercise or even poor posture, as normally those who feel alone may not want to do routine activities or be outdoors, simply because they are alone.
Find out the best exercises to practice at an advanced age
Loneliness is associated with an increased risk of developing addictions to chemicals, drugs, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, possibly due to the search for a sense of pleasure or immediate relief.Lack of support from friends and family to address addiction also makes it difficult to quit.
To prevent loneliness from persisting and cause or aggravate many diseases, it is important to have attitudes that eliminate this situation and increase social life, such as making a hobby, enrolling in a course or adopting an animal, for example.
Family support, if possible, is very important to help the person, especially the elderly, overcome this feeling.Learn more about other attitudes to combat loneliness.
When loneliness causes physical symptoms, or when associated with other symptoms such as sadness, loss of willpower, appetite, or impaired sleep, it is important to seek the support of a psychologist and psychiatrist, as it may be associated with other health conditions., like depression.