Social relationships should be taken into account
Researchers have shed a new light on stroke victims. As per a study published in the journal Heart, titled "Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies" there is a visible influence of social relationships on stroke and cardiovascular health.
"Those who have few social contacts..."
The researchers have said that adults who have fewer social contacts are at an increased risk of premature mortality.
"The influence of social relationships on mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors, including physical activity and obesity. Yet, compared with our understanding of these risk factors, we know much less about the implications of loneliness and social isolation for disease aetiology," the study says.
"There is more than 25% risk in heart diseases and stroke incidences"
The review study found that poor social relationships were associated with a 29% increase in risk of incident CHD and a 32% increase in risk of stroke.
The researchers found a link between poor social relationships and other recognised psychosocial risk factors, such as anxiety and job strain.
The researchers have suggested that to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers should take loneliness and social isolation into account.
More than 35,000 records were reviewed
The researchers retrieved 35,925 records for the study. The study recorded a total of 4628 heart diseases and 3002 stroke events over a period ranging from 3 to 21 years.
Though the incidences of heart attacks and stroke had increased due to social isolation, subgroup analyses did not identify any differences by gender.
"Risk of social isolation increases as we get older"
According to an official statement by the American Heart Association, regarding one of its research studies, "social isolation and loneliness are associated with about a 30% increased risk of heart attack or stroke, or death from either."
"Risk of social isolation increases with age due to life factors, such as widowhood and retirement. Nearly one quarter of U.S. adults ages 65 and older are socially isolated, and prevalence of loneliness is even higher, with estimates of 22% to 47%," it also said.
Social isolation may have increased during pandemic
The study also focused on the impact of lockdowns, particularly among 18-25 years old.
Nationwide lockdown was imposed in the country to control the spread of the coronavirus. People were asked to stay indoors and in some cases people who had migrated to different places were unable to shift back to their native place and could not be with their families.
All these incidents took a toll on the mental health of individuals.
Symptoms of heart attack and stroke everyone should know
Chest pain or discomfort, feeling weak and dizziness, pain in both arms or shoulders, shortness of breath are few common symptoms seen in heart attack cases.
Stroke signs are sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm and leg. These symptoms are seen on one side of the body. One of the most typical signs of stroke is that the person has trouble seeing in one or both the eyes.
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