Loneliness Is Linked To Heart Disease And Increased Risk Of Stroke

Loneliness is known to be associated with a weakened immune system, elevated blood pressure and premature death.

Researchers have gone through data of 23 eligible studies, which involved over 180,000 patients who had been diagnosed with various cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, as well as strokes, over a period of 3-21 years.

No solid conclusions could be drawn regarding cause and effect, though, since this was an observational study. Another issue was that other possible and unmeasured factors weren't able to be excluded as potential causes of increasing the patients' morbidity and mortality risk. However, the above-mentioned findings did add relevance to the concern that public health has over the importance of social interactions for healthy living.

The significance of the findings

The findings of the collected data are clinically significant in that it is suggested that social interactions may then be necessary in order to promote healthy living, improving quality of life and therefore reduce patient morbidity and mortality.

Promoting social interaction would then be just as important as promoting increased physical activity, the cessation of using tobacco products, reducing alcohol intake and decreasing saturated fat intake in order to reduce the risk of developing or worsening cardiovascular disease.

Further research has then been suggested, to determine whether interventions targeting social isolation and loneliness will help to prevent death and disability caused by heart disease and stroke. It has also been suggested that social factors be included in medical education, patient risk assessment, as well as in the policies and guidelines which are applied to populations and to the delivery of health services.

READ The Loneliness and Heartbreak of Disconnection

Effects of loneliness 

Loneliness can lead to other physical and mental complications. These can include the following:

Physical complications

• As mentioned; cardiovascular diseases, strokes and high blood pressure due to increased levels of interleukin-6.
• Decreased body heat due to Vasoconstriction of the peripheral blood vessels.
• Lowered immunity due to altered DNA transcription in immune cells. This can result in viral reactivation of organisms such as herpes, and an increased risk of bacterial and fungal infections.
• High cholesterol.
• Obesity.
• Increased cortisol levels.
• Digestive problems.
• Sleep related issues.
• Increased disease progression in HIV+ patients.

Mental complications

• Increase in anxiety and the possibility of developing anxiety disorders.
• Major depression .
• Increased risk for attempted or successful suicide.
• Alcoholism and/or substance abuse.
• Loneliness has been linked with personality disorders such as a schizoid personality.
• Anti-social behaviour in children.
• Learning difficulties and memory impairment.

Broken Heart Syndrome 

Definition

Broken heart syndrome is a temporary heart condition which is caused by tense situations, such as death of a loved one, which increase the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline. The increased stress hormone levels cause a disruption of the normal pumping function of the heart. This results in the heart changing it's shape to resemble that of a Japanese octopus catching equipment called takotsubo.

This condition is therefore called takotsubo cardiomyopathy and usually resolves by itself within a week. The most affected demographic group seems to be women over 50 years of age.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of this condition include shortness of breath​ and chest pain. This can mimic the symptoms which are associated with a heart attack and patients are therefore initially managed for this.

The difference between takotsubo cardiomyopathy and a heart attack is the following. The coronary arteries in the former are not blocked but blood flow to the heart is reduced, whereas in a heart attack the blood flow to the heart is reduced due to blockage of the coronary arteries of the heart.

Causes 

Intense physical and emotional events can lead to this condition. Some possible triggers may include the following:

• News of a severe medical condition.
• Unexpected or sudden death of a loved one.
• Physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
• Massive financial loss.
• Loss of work.
• Divorce or other legal proceedings.
• Having to perform in a public situation.
• Physical stressors such as major surgery, being in a car accident, etc.

Certain medications can also be associated with broken heart syndrome, but this is a rare occurrence. These medications may include the following:

• Adrenaline, which is available in products needed to treat severe allergic reactions.
• Duloxetine or venlafaxine, which are anti-depressants.
• Levothyroxine, used to treat an underactive thyroid.

Complications

Although this is a self-limiting condition, it can be fatal. Since it can resolve quickly there doesn't seem to be many issues related to it, but there are a few important ones to take note of and they are as follows:

• Low blood pressure.
• Pulmonary oedema.
• Disruptions in the heartbeat such as arrhythmias.  

READ How to survive a heart attack when you are all alone?

Management 

There are no standard protocols for the treatment of this condition, but there are certain medications which can be used to help reduce the workload on the heart and they may include the following:

• ACE-inhibitors.
• Diuretics.
• Beta blockers.

Stress reduction is suggested to help prevent this condition or relapse of it. Certain techniques can be incorporated in order to do this and they may include the following:

• Breathing techniques.
• Massage therapy. 
• Yoga.
• Acupuncture.
• Meditation.

Consultation with a psychologist can also help to incorporate cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) in order to help replace negative thoughts with positive ones, and also help to use coping skills to deal with stressors and triggers.