A new study published in the journal proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that bonding with other people through life could decrease the chances of heart diseases, cancer and strokes.
Even though it is not a cause-effect kind of discovery, investigators found out that the more social ties a person had, the better health he or she presented at a young and older age.
The researchers analyzed data from four surveys made to Americans of different ages. They considered social integration, support and strains in the society. Later they evaluated the data with four indicators of health like blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index and systemic inflammation, which are linked to heart diseases, strokes, cancer and other diseases.
Results demonstrated that isolation from the society could lead to a series of health problems at a younger age. Social networks in teens appeared to reduce obesity and future diabetes, researchers said.
Authors also explained that older people with more social relations tend to live longer, and linked social ties to better health in each stage of life in a previous study.
The analysis showed the importance of working in social relations and bonding with other people.
“Our analysis makes it clear that doctors, clinicians, and other health workers should redouble their efforts to help the public understand how important strong social bonds are throughout the course of all our lives,” said Yang Claire Yang, study co-author, in a press release.
The society appears to be more isolated than ever with the technology available in many ways. People got more lonely and distant from one and another in their “unplugged lives” declared Sherry Turkle, PhD, a social psychologist in Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“This is not only changing the way we interact online, it is changing our personal relationship as well,” she added.
Source: Get Healthy