How loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of high blood pressure and high blood pressure in women are: Gender and Relationships

With loneliness Social isolation Studies suggest that women may have high blood pressure and an increased risk of high blood pressure. This study was conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia and was recently published in the Journal of Hypertension. The study found that social isolation affects the health of men and women in many ways. For example, women may be at increased risk of high blood pressure.

In addition, we found that middle-aged and older women with no social ties were much more likely to suffer from high blood pressure (a known risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in women) and stroke than men. “Social isolation is the number one known risk factor for death and is equivalent to smoking among the elderly,” said the lead study, an assistant professor at the UBC School of Pharmacy and a researcher at the Center for Health Assessment and Results Science. Annalijn Conklin said. “What is not well known is how social isolation affects men and women differently, or how it affects biomarkers of longevity, especially according to our research. Women are more likely to have high blood pressure when they experience isolation in middle and old age. “

Using data from a longitudinal study of aging in Canada, these researchers analyzed the social connections of 28,238 adults aged 45-85 years and engaged in social activities less than three times a month without a partner. I have found a woman who is or has a small social network. (Contacts of less than 85 people) The probability of hypertension was high. Average systolic blood pressure was highest among widows, lonely lives, and inactive women, and the largest difference in blood pressure was between widows and married women. Widowed women were found to be most likely to have high blood pressure in all categories.

The paintings were quite different among men. Those who were single, shared their homes with others, and had the largest social networks had the highest blood pressure, those who lived alone had lower blood pressure. Researchers have found that a combination of different social connections is also important. Regular social participation appears to be protective among unpartnered women and is healthy when healthcare providers screen the number of monthly social activities and treat older women without partners. It suggests including these with diet and exercise.

“Among women, the increase in blood pressure associated with lack of social connectivity was similar to that seen with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, increased contamination with sodium diets, or weight gain,” Conklin said. Says. “This represents an important female-specific risk factor for heart disease and stroke.” In a previous study by Conklin using the same data set, single, widowed, divorced, or separated women were abdominal and We found that women are more likely to be obese in general, are less likely to become obese if they live alone, and have a smaller social network.

“The new findings from previous studies emphasize how social isolation affects the health of men and women differently,” Conklin said. “When Covid-19 is forced to limit our social interactions, it encourages people working in health care and public health to find new ways of social activity, especially for older women. It is important to do so. ”Zeinab Hosseini, the lead author who contributed to the study as a former UBC postdoc, said more research is needed on how social connections affect cardiovascular risk factors. I did. “Prospective and interventional studies not only help us understand this, but also help us understand why women and men have different relationships,” she said.

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