The National Health Service in Great Britain recommends that people who feel lonely meet more actively with their family and friends.
Everyone feels lonely from time to time, but if it becomes chronic it can cause chronic diseases that will worsen the general health situation in society.
Problems such as depression, anxiety and stress caused by loneliness have been known for decades. Now, however, doctors are discovering that loneliness can even age a person – faster than smoking.
A joint study by Stanford University and the University of Hong Kong found that feelings of loneliness affect the biological clock more strongly than cigarettes do.
The researchers clarify that chronic loneliness is not equivalent to temporary conditions such as having no friends or few social contacts.
Many people live happily alone. But the feeling of isolation can be present even when a person has a relationship or a large family.
This can reduce physical activity, which in turn causes problems such as insomnia, pain, and high stress levels.
Ultimately, loneliness triggers problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, immune collapse, cognitive decline and dementia. High levels of the hormone cortisol have a direct impact on the brain's ability to remember, scientists say.
The head of the US Public Health Service also has warned that rising levels of loneliness among people pose health risks equivalent to smoking a dozen cigarettes a day, the Associated Press reported.
Nearly half of US adults say they have experienced loneliness, Dr. Vivek Murthy said in a report published by the office, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
"We already know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It is like hunger or thirst. It's a feeling our body feels when something we need for our survival is missing," Murthy said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Research shows that in recent decades, Americans who have decreased their involvement in prayer and community organizations, or who have decreased contact with their own families, have reported experiencing increased feelings of loneliness. Also, the number of one-person households has doubled in the last 60 years.
However, the problem has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and related isolation measures. Young people aged 15 to 24 are particularly affected – this age group reported a 70% drop in time spent with friends in 2020.
According to Murthy, the new technologies and especially social networks are one of the main reasons for the increase in loneliness among people.
"There's really no substitute for live communication," he elaborated. "Since we've started using technology more and more to communicate with each other, we've replaced a lot of face-to-face communication."
"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."
– Mother Teresa
"The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved."
– Mother Teresa
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
– Mother Teresa
"What can you do to promote peace? Go home and love your family."
– Mother Teresa
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A.A
Stob, Bulgaria