Can loneliness cause high blood pressure in women?

In a recent study published in the journal Journal of Hypertension, researchers found that middle-aged and elderly women who lacked social connections were at a higher risk of suffering from high blood pressure than men. Let us tell you that the problem of hypertension or high blood pressure is the most important risk factor responsible for heart disease, which is one of the biggest causes of death in women. In addition, high blood pressure is also an important risk factor for stroke.

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"Among older adults, social isolation is the biggest known risk factor for death, second only to exposure to smoking," says lead researcher Annalijn Conklin, assistant professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC). equal. But little is known about how social isolation affects men and women differently, or how it affects biomarkers of longevity. Our research indicates that in women, The likelihood of having high blood pressure is especially high when they experience isolation in middle age and old age."

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Using data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging in Canada, researchers analyzed the social relationships of 28,238 adults between the ages of 45 and 85. The researchers found that women who did not have a partner, were involved in fewer than 3 social activities a month, or had a small social network (fewer than 85 contacts), were more likely to have high blood pressure. Average systolic blood pressure was highest among widows, women who lived alone, and socially inactive women. The biggest difference in blood pressure was between widowed and married women. Widows were at a higher risk of hypertension in all categories.

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Among the men in the study, the picture was quite different. Single men who shared a home with others and had a large social network had the highest blood pressure, while men with a small social network and living alone had the lowest blood pressure. Earlier research by researcher Annalijn Conklin, using the same set of data, found that women who were single, widowed, divorced, or separated from a partner had a higher risk of abdominal and general obesity. Whereas men were less likely to be obese if they lived alone and had a small social network.

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Conklin adds, “Our new research results, in line with previous research, underscore how social isolation affects health differently in men and women. At a time when COVID- As COVID-19 has forced us to limit our social relationships and interactions, those working in healthcare and public health must encourage older women to find new ways to be socially active."

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Through this study, scientists have tried to tell that loneliness does not only cause mental problems but can also give rise to high BP. Having high BP has a direct effect on the heart, which can lead to many heart diseases. Therefore, spending time with family, friends, and acquaintances is important. Also, mental illness, high BP, and heart disease can also be avoided by doing yoga, meditation, and exercise regularly.

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