Social connections reduce risk of heart attacks, strokes: DAK

Srinagar, Jun 21 : Claiming that social connections reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) said that studies have revealed that about a third of heart attacks and strokes can be prevented by strong social ties.
“If you are connected to your neighbors, have strong family ties and are involved in your community, you have less chances of getting a heart attack or stroke,” Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) President Dr Nisar ul Hassan said.

Quoting a study, he said people who were less connected to others were 29 per cent more likely to have a heart attack and 32 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than people who had more social interactions and relationships.

“That means about a third of heart attacks and strokes can be prevented by strong social ties,” Dr Nisar said, adding social interactions help to buffer the damaging effects of stress which exposes the body to high levels of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that lead to clogging of blood vessels.

“Stress makes other risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol worse,” he said, adding that ‘people who have lot of stress smoke and choose other unhealthy ways to deal with stress which in turn heighten the risk for a coronary or a brain event’.

“Interpersonal contact helps you pull in healthy habits and behavior like regular exercise, healthy diet, avoidance of smoking and reducing weight,” Dr Hassan pointed out.

“People around you can bring sense of purpose and meaning in your life that translates to taking better care of yourself. While social integration has been found to protect your heart and brain, more and more people are living alone and loneliness is becoming increasingly common,” he said.

“Physicians and healthcare providers should emphasize the significance of social relationships on health as much as advocating for eating right and exercising,” he opined.