Categories: Psychiatry

Loneliness deadlier than obesity, alcohol and smoking

The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked immeasurable destruction and brought out the good, bad and ugly in our society. It has created various groups of people affected by the pandemic in different ways. From selfless doctors to overworked nurses, dedicated social workers, Covid-19 patients, elders at risk, migrant labourers, vaccine-hesitant people, Covid-ignorant people, opportunistic politicians, black-marketing businessmen, lockdown-fatigued common-man, jobless youth, abusive partners and depressed children…the pandemic has seen it all.

However, there is one category of people that are not in the limelight or discussed enough. They are in fact the worst affected by the pandemic. They are – lonely people! The pandemic-induced lockdowns, and the fear of getting infected has added distance in all relationships in our society. While most people are adjusting to the new normal, for the lonely, it’s a different experience altogether. For them, living the pandemic life is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

The loneliness epidemic

Long before the Covid-19 pandemic emerged, the world has been witnessing a silent epidemic that is deadlier. Scientists, doctors and psychologists are calling it the ‘loneliness epidemic’. New and alternate styles of living, migration in search of better prospects, increased failure rates in marriage, preference for singlehood, breakdown of the family structure, smaller families, elders abandoned by their families – all these have increased loneliness in our society.

Types of loneliness

Again, loneliness is a generic term and technically the problem is of 4 types:

Living alone: Self-explanatory… this includes elders, youth and middle-aged people living by themselves in different types of accommodation.
Social isolation: These are people who live with family members but have very little contact with the outside world. This includes people who are: battling deadly diseases and can infect others, too sick to manage their own life, unable to travel for various reasons, institutionalized for one or more issues, those who live in remote places, working long hours at work 6 to 7 days a week… the list is long.
Feeling lonely: Unlike the 1^st and 2^nd category, here, people are living with friends or family and have sufficient contact with the outside world, however they still feel lonely. They don’t feel the connect with people around them, they are abused, or their emotional needs are not appreciated. From abused partners to abused elders, to people who feel they are more disadvantaged than those around them (in one or more ways), this segment too is large.
Isolation / Alienation: Loneliness can also be a transient situation caused by hostile workplace, rejection or shunning among friend, family or acquaintance circles. As a response, the person goes in to a shell and becomes socially withdrawn till he/she has figured out how to handle the situation.

Interestingly, technology and social media have had a mixed effect on the lonely. While to some people, the occasional chat with friends and family reduces loneliness, for others, it worsens the problem. Looking at umpteen photos, videos or posts about how others are enjoying themselves on vacations, social outings, recognition at the workplace or achievements in life, induces bitterness or feeling disadvantaged compared to others and hence even more lonely.

Also Read: Surefire Ways to Combat Loneliness in Elders

How bad is the problem?

While not much data is available or published in India about this problem, there is plenty of data, research or experiments being conducted in other parts of the world. Most of them are from the US and UK, while some are from parts of Europe and China. Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychologist from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, USA has done stellar research in this area, has published her findings in 2017 and also spoken about the problem in the US Senate.

Some statistics:

Nearly 42.6 million Americans above 45 years of age have chronic loneliness, according to the AARP’s Loneliness Study.
47 percent of Americans often feel alone, left out and lacking meaningful connection with others. This is true for all ages, from teenagers to older adults.
In Japan, for example, an estimated half million shut themselves away for months on end. In the UK, 4 in 10 citizens report feelings of chronic, profound loneliness.
In a survey conducted by health insurer Cigna, 54% of respondents said they feel no one knows them well, and four in 10 reported they “lack companionship,” their “relationships aren’t meaningful” and they “are isolated from others.”
Nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46%) or left out (47%).
The problem is not unique to the elderly alone. In the US, 75 million millennials (ages 23-37) and Generation Z adults (18-22) are lonelier than any other demographic and report being in worse health than older people.

Health risks from loneliness

Loneliness can be deadlier than obesity, alcohol and smoking. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, it reduces one’s immunity levels, which increases the risk of infection and disease. Next, it increases inflammation in the body, which can contribute to many chronic health-conditions.

In contrast, being around with people has various benefits. Having social connections improves peoples’ odds of survival by 50% on average. Whereas, living alone increased the likelihood of mortality the most, 32%, while social isolation raised the risk by 29% and loneliness by 26% as per studies conducted. Simply living with someone else increased survival by nearly 20% while extensive social integration nearly doubled the odds of survival. In contrast, obesity is less deadly. A BMI (body mass index) of more than 35 (grade 2 or higher obesity) is associated with a 29% increase in mortality due to any ailment.

Cancer: While loneliness itself may not be a trigger for cancer, it can delay recovery from cancer, due to a weakened immune system, and fragile psychology of the person which prevents a positive outlook to fighting the disease.

Heart disease and stroke: In April 2016, the journal Heart published results from various studies. Researchers examined 23 studies involving 181,000 adults. This group recorded 4,628 heart-related events—such as heart attacks, angina attacks and death, as well as 3,000 strokes approximately. The data showed that loneliness, social isolation, or both were associated with 32% greater risk of stroke and a 29% increased risk of heart attack.

Depression: Loneliness is closely linked to depression and may lead to an early death. Depressive symptoms and increased risk of social isolation were associated with both moderate and severe loneliness. Depression increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, immune system problems while delaying recovery from serious ailments.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s: Alzheimer’s disease currently affects over 5.7 million Americans and this number is expected to triple by 2050. Researchers found that loneliness was associated with a 26% increased risk of dementia. About 30.1% of people with dementia reported feeling moderately lonely and 5.2% severely lonely. Additionally, one study found that loneliness was associated with a 105% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia.

Outlook

Loneliness is not a mental state or an unfortunate situation to live with. It’s a genuine condition with serious physiological and psychological consequences. Governments around the world are taking this seriously as loneliness robs the exchequer of these countries several millions in healthcare-expenses. In 2018, the then British Prime Minister Theresa May went so far as to appoint a national ‘Minister for Loneliness’.

However, loneliness is not yet classified as a clinical disorder, so there are no drugs given to combat this. But over the last decade or more, governments and NGOs in the US and Europe have come up with various mechanisms to help people suffering from loneliness. It’s just a matter of time, before such initiatives are started in India. But you do not have to wait till then.

If you, or any of your near and dear ones are suffering from loneliness, it’s time to seek help. Please consult a reputed hospital. Such hospitals have a psychiatry department. They will initiate diagnostic tests to check if you are already at risk of any physical ailment. After that, they will connect you with counsellors or experts who will help you overcome the problem and enjoy a better quality of life.

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

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