Loneliness: The Silent Killer Fueling Lifestyle Diseases, Say Experts

• Loneliness is a significant and growing health risk, with 1 in 3 young adults in India reporting no one to talk to and 73% of urban seniors experiencing isolation.
• Medical studies link loneliness to a 25% higher risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke, highlighting its physiological consequences.
• Experts like Shradha Chaturvedi (GetCompanion) emphasize that chronic loneliness accelerates lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and sleep disorders.
• Neha Sinha (Epoch Elder Care) notes that elder loneliness is a clinically significant risk factor, potentially accelerating dementia and Parkinson's disease.
• Preventive healthcare needs to expand beyond traditional methods to include human connection and emotional safety as crucial interventions against loneliness-induced health issues.

Why It Matters: Loneliness is a critical, underappreciated public health concern driving lifestyle diseases, demanding urgent attention and integrated solutions.