Marinating in processed food and bad friends?
Since you asked, here is my answer. Usually social isolation comes with a sedentary life style. So, if your idea of physical activity is walking to the mailbox once a day and you spend the rest of your time slumped on the couch marinating in processed food (I like this analogy I use it a lot in my answers), then yes—whether you’re socially isolated or surrounded by people, your days may already be numbered. The older folks I know some even add Alcohol marinating with that.
The body doesn’t care if you’re lonely or the life of the party, hanging out with buddies watching more TV—if you don’t move, if you don’t push your cardiovascular system, it will start to wither away. And that is not the only thing that will decline. Muscle and Bone mass loss, obesity, diabetes, all sorts of nasties.
That being said, social isolation can be an accelerant to the downward spiral. Chronic loneliness triggers stress responses in the body, spiking cortisol levels, increasing inflammation, and usually inflammation causes other things to break down, and - leads to higher blood pressure from there, yeah, you are right -Cardiovascular diseases.
Over time, this silent storm wears down your arteries, damages your heart, and increases the risk of a stroke. In short? Isolation isn’t just about feeling alone—it’s physically corrosive.
Now, does that mean having a bunch of friends guarantees good health? Hell no. No freaking way. If your social circle consists of junk-food addicts, couch warriors, Cable News enthusiasts (if you live in the States), and energy-drink lovers who haven’t walked a mile since the Nixon Administration, you’re not exactly stacking the odds in your favor. I had a few friends like that - I ditched them.
Bad company doesn’t buy you any health points—it just gives you an audience for your bad decisions.
So, what’s the fix? Move more. Do something physical. Find a few people who push you to be better. Hell, get on Quora and follow me on Quora. You may learn a thing or two about life quality.
Whether you lift weights, take long walks, or find a hobby that keeps you engaged and off the couch, you’ll do more for your cardiovascular health than a thousand empty social interactions ever could.
Bottom line? Being alone won’t kill you. Living like you’re already dead will.
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