When people have limited in-person connections with others, they often forget to care for themselves and lose motivation to keep up lifestyle habits, such as exercise and healthy eating. They also have a greater risk of sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. 

Isolation also impacts physical health, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke by 30 percent and the risk of dementia by 50 percent. Isolated people are more likely to die prematurely too.

During the pandemic, senior citizens have especially felt the negative effects of isolation. And video calls don’t substitute for face-to-face interactions, according to researchers. How important that we find ways to encourage and support one another, especially the older adults in our lives! 

This health tidbit is taken from the Lifelines section in our latest issue. Read the whole section for free here!

“How Social Isolation Can Harm Health As You Age—And How to Prevent It,” American Heart Association, heart.org, May 7, 2021.