"Extends life": Scientists reveal the surprising secret of meeting with friends
Lively conversation in the circle of friends and loved ones, sincere laughter, and meeting over a cup of tea are not just ways to pass the time or boost your mood — they have turned out to be a powerful medical factor that significantly extends human life.
Great Britain's University of Glasgow scientists, through a major multi-year scientific study, have proven that distancing oneself from friends and loneliness lead to more devastating health consequences than previously expected.
12-year observation: What did the fate of 450,000 people show?
Researchers at the University of Glasgow monitored more than 450,000 volunteers continuously for 12 years and reached the following serious conclusions:
Risk of early death increases by 39%: In people who never meet with friends, loved ones, and relatives and live in social isolation, the rate of early death was 39 percent higher compared to those who communicate regularly;
Meeting once a month is also a salvation: Studies have shown that even meeting face-to-face with loved ones just once a month drastically reduces this risk factor.
"As harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day": Brigham Young University conclusion
A study by experts at Brigham Young University in the USA proved the biological damage that loneliness causes to the human body with even more terrifying comparisons:
50% longer life: People with strong social and friendly ties are 50 percent more likely to live a long life compared to lonely individuals;
More dangerous than tobacco and alcohol: According to the official conclusion of the scientists, social isolation causes damage to the human body at the same level as the negative complications caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day or chronic alcoholism.
How does meeting with friends heal the body? Four main biological shields
Live communication activates a number of vital processes in the human body:
Hormonal balance and stress reduction: While having a good time with friends, the level of the stress-responsible hormone cortisol drops, and conversely, the production of oxytocin, which provides feelings of love and happiness, accelerates;
Strong immune system: The bodies of socially active people who communicate with many others are rich in protective forces, and they are much less susceptible to various seasonal infectious diseases;
Protecting the heart and blood vessels: Chronic loneliness directly paves the way for high blood pressure and the risk of heart attack. Live chats relax the blood vessels and normalize heart function;
Sharpness of mind and memory: Constant exchange of ideas keeps brain neurons in an active state. This acts as a barrier to the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in old age.
Therefore, do not use busyness and daily chores as an excuse; meeting with dear friends at a teahouse or in a gathering should be viewed not just as relaxation, but as the most necessary investment made for your own health and longevity.
Comments 0
…