Social life as important as diet & exercise

Most of us are aware that diet and exercise are important to maintain good health. A study now claims that your social connections also impact your health just as much as diet and exercise.

Your social connections are you ‘social capital’….more the social capital better is your health.

The size and quality of a person’s social ties also affects specific health measures, such as abdominal obesity and hypertension.

For example, teenagers who keep themselves socially isolated have the same risk for developing inflammation as those who don’t exercise.

Social isolation increases the risk for developing hypertension in older adults than from diabetes.

Research also showed that loneliness in old age has an impact on longevity while a robust social life is good for overall health. Researchers at University of Chicago found that extreme loneliness increases a person’s chances of premature death by 14%. They also found that loneliness has double the impact of obesity on early death.

John Cacioppo, professor of Psychology, University of Chicago says that the health consequences of feeling lonely are dramatic. It was found that feeling isolated from others can disrupt sleep, elevate blood pressure, increase morning rises in the stress hormone cortisol, alter gene expression in immune cells, increase depression and lower overall subjective well-being.

These health effects on loneliness can be mitigated by: staying in touch with former co-workers, taking part in family traditions, and sharing good times with family and friends as it gives older adults a chance to connect with others.

The researchers said that while following a healthy diet and exercising regularly are important things, a good social life and connections with other people are also essential from the teenage years through the 90s and beyond.

Cultivate relationships and don’t wait until you’re old to do that.