clipped from americansfeedingamerica.org

Loneliness increases risk of hypertension: Study

In addition to obesity and lack of exercise, a recent study has found that loneliness also poses a potential risk factor for hypertension.

The new research, conducted by scientists at the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago, shows that loneliness can add 30 points to a blood pressure reading for adults over the age of 50. The researchers found that lonely older people had blood pressure readings that were as much as 30 points higher than others — even after other negative emotive states, like sadness, stress or hostility, were taken into account.

“The take-home message is that feelings of loneliness are a health risk, in that the lonelier you are, the higher your blood pressure. And we know that high blood pressure has all kinds of negative consequences,” said lead researcher Louise Hawkley, whose team published its findings in the April issue of Psychology and Aging.