It seems hard to believe that in an era of hyperconnectivity and social media, people feel so lonely... but that is exactly what is happening. In addition to causing a great emotional impact, loneliness can have physical consequences, amplifying the symptoms of diseases and increasing the risk of heart attacks and heart problems.
A famous phrase says "better alone than in bad company", and although it is often correct, the truth is that chronic loneliness is not something we should actively seek. One of the most serious problems with loneliness is that it doesn't solve itself magically by "talking to people", since you can feel very alone even when surrounded by friends and/or family. Furthermore, age is not completely relevant. Loneliness tends to be associated with affecting older adults severely; however, recent studies suggest that the demographic bracket from 16 to 24 years old is being devoured by loneliness.
The Study and Its Findings
This video from AsapSCIENCE presents a study involving 213 people. All participants took a test to measure their loneliness scale, were exposed to the common cold virus, and were isolated in hotel rooms for five days. At the end of the process, those who felt lonelier according to the scale reported much more severe symptoms of the flu. Another interesting aspect is that loneliness generates a deep response in the brain's reward system when a person is exposed to the image of a loved one, a reaction similar to that produced by food when we are hungry (it seems to be more delicious when it isn't).
The Cellular Impact
The most serious effect of loneliness is at the cellular level. This includes an increase in the activity of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, which translates into a 29 percent increase in the possibility of developing coronary heart disease, and a 32 percent increase in strokes. In summary, the probability of survival among those with stronger social ties is 50 percent higher, transforming loneliness into something as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, lack of exercise, or obesity.
