HEALTH UPDATE: loneliness increases risk of hypertension

In addition to obesity and lack of exercise, a recent study has found that loneliness also poses a potential risk factor for hypertension.
The researchers found that lonely older people had blood pressure readings that were as much as 30 points higher than others even after other negative emotive states, like sadness, stress or hostility, were taken into account, radio reported.
The effect of loneliness in increasing hypertension appeared to get stronger with age, and the effect of loneliness on blood pressure in older individuals is similar to that of physical risk factors long targeted by physicians, such as obesity or sedentary lifestyles.
"The take-home message is that feelings of loneliness are a health risk, in that the lonelier you are, the higher your blood pressure. And we know that high blood pressure has all kinds of negative effect." If loneliness can raise blood pressure, then the solution seems easy strengthen existing relationships and make new ones.