Postmenopausal women are at greater risk of heart disease, stroke, and death when experiencing social isolation and loneliness, according to a new study.
There are various factors that can cause heart disease, but the discovery highlights the significant connection between human emotions and the heart.
Groundbreaking Discovery
Researchers published their study in the JAMA Network Open on Feb. 2 wherein they explored the evident connection between loneliness, social isolation, and cardiovascular disease among older or postmenopausal women.
The study aims to bring awareness of the issue as a public health concern.
Researchers conducted an assessment of the said negative emotions and whether social support can mitigate the health hazards of social isolation and loneliness to heart disease.
It was conducted through a quantitative approach of a large sample of postmenopausal women in the United States.
The results of the assessment show there is a strong correlation that causes higher risks of cardiovascular disease among lonely and socially isolated individuals, according to John Bellettiere Ph.D., the study co-author, and professor at the University of California, San Diego, as cited by WebMD.
Also read: Depression in Pregnant Women May Affect Babies' Brain Development
Quantitative Method
The coverage of the study lasted for eight years and used the quantitative method to acquire its data.
Researchers used surveys and questionnaires from 58,000 women in the old age group between 59 and 99 years old from the Women's Health Initiative Extension Study II in the US.
The study findings concluded that older or postmenopausal women who experienced social isolation and loneliness, during the duration of the data gathering, were 13% and 27% at greater risk of contracting a cardiovascular disease or heart disease.
It must also be noted that the study mentioned the participants had no history of coronary heart disease or any heart problems.
After the results, the researchers suggested that social support and intervention can help women cope with the said emotions and potentially prevent risks of cardiovascular disease.
Study Implications in Geriatrics
The recent research on the link between social isolation and loneliness with heart disease provides an important basis for potential studies in the field of Geriatrics, a field of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of elderly people with the disease and other health issues.
The yielded results from the new study can widen scientific understanding between the connection of human emotions and their effect on the body may be explored further.
Additionally, it can also help patients experiencing loneliness and social isolation in the future.
Heart Disease in the US
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) stated that a person dies from cardiovascular disease in the US every 36 seconds.
The AHA estimated that an individual in the US dies from stroke approximately every three minutes.
Moreover, the CDC emphasized that heart disease, including heart attacks, is the leading cause of death in the US.
Hundreds of thousands of people die from cardiovascular disease each year, says CDC.
Cardiovascular diseases are also a challenge in the healthcare industry in other countries worldwide.
Related article: Men Just As Likely to Suffer from Depression as Women, Study Finds
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